I wrote this back in 2015 in response to the launch of a new hymnal project. Since then, we’ve established a hymn-loving committee to consider all that needs to be considered in the update of a hymnal. I can only hope that they take my input into the process seriously. The powers that be within … More Top 6 Hymns that could be Drinking Songs
It can be difficult to make new friends. Especially if you are an adult. Especially if you are seeking to befriend a Mennonite. Admittedly, many people never face this problem. There are plenty of non-Mennonites out there who are amenable to friend seekers. I can only imagine that friend seekers who need to resort to … More How to Make Friends with a Mennonite
By now, you have probably been to four or five Christmas gatherings. Maybe you’ve eaten your share of pfeffernuss and are readying yourself for portzelchy. Maybe you’ve already alienated the other Rook players in your family and have strained the goodwill of the Dutch Blitzers. You have almost certainly exhausted all of your polite small … More An Entirely Appropriate Mennonite Party Game
When I married outside of the fold, I discovered something new: turns out a large segment of the Canadian population regularly watches movies around Christmas time. It was like a brand new world opened up in front of me. Despite my liberal upbringing, extensive movie-viewing had never been a major part of the holiday season … More A Mennonite Christmas Movie
This post was first published in July 2015. But I’ve been on vacation again this year, though once again, not a proper Mennonite vacation like in the days of yore. I’m a little late with this post as I’ve been off on vacation. Yes, a vacation! Given our reputation for hard work and frugality, you … More A Proper Mennonite Vacation
If you’re one of my five non-Mennonite readers, you might be nervous about coming to the Drunken Menno Virtual Cocktail Party because you don’t know Mennonite cocktail party etiquette. You might be wondering: “what should I wear?” “Should I bring something?” “Do I need to speak plaut dietsch?” Happily, some of the standard cocktail party … More Mennonite Cocktail Party Etiquette Guide
There are Mennonites out there who equate the television set with abomination and vow to have nothing to do with it. These are mostly, I understand, either Holdeman Mennonites, Amish or young parents. When I was in my 20s, I too declared TV a waste of time and my spouse and I renounced the boob … More If Mennonites wrote for TV
This post was originally posted in May, 2015 on the old site. There’s a book that I used to read to my kids that’s called the Quiltmaker’s Gift. It tells the story of a magical old woman who made beautiful quilts (all by herself) and gave them to the poor. “ ‘I give my quilts … More The Quiltmaker’s Guilt
People often ask me, “How do Mennonites celebrate New Year’s Eve”? Not really. I don’t think anyone’s ever asked me that. But they should – because I have an answer waiting. Can you guess? That’s right. The answer is: It depends. Apparently, my ancestors in Russia celebrated New Year’s Eve along with their Ukrainian neighbours … More Quiz of the MennoYear
Post first published in December 2014, appearing here with minor edits. We arrived at my Oma’s house somewhere close to noon. She would greet us smilingly at the door, with scents of roasting turkey mingling with the baking ammonia from her cookies and the slightest hint of a gas leak that always met us at … More A Child’s Christmas in Mennoland Pt 2
