Fading Hex Signs --Are the Pennsylvania Germans Dying Out?

There have long been discussions about loss of identity among the Pennsylvania Germans. There have been arguments about what makes us "Dutch," degrees of "Dutchness," and what represents authentic "Dutch culture." Those arguments have not been settled in the pages of folklore reviews or cultural heritage journals. Thus it is unlikely that a personal website can resolve those disputes.

Perhaps it can illuminate them with the personal slant of a Dutch wanderer who celebrates pan-germanic culture, who appreciates the impact of the Dutch Diaspora on the settling of North America, and who accepts the inevitable and timeless cross- pollenization of cultures.

What would mark the end of Pennsylvania Germans as a discernible North American group? For years many have focused on the decline of the use of the Deitsch dialect. Others look to demographic trends like the in-migration of non-Dutch in what were previously exclusive ethnic enclaves. Some see evidence in land use trends, decline of traditional agriculture, disappearance of distinctive community events, and many other factors.

There is a case to be made that Pennsylvania German consciousness will not die out as long as there are those who self identify with this heritage. It will be whatever they define it as. Survivors always get to decide. Still, as things ebb and flow, the contributions made by cultural heritage groups, writers, and folklorists will likely provide a template for those future bearers of our collective legacy.

Here's one voice and one vote for preservation of the magic and natural spiritual instincts of the Pennsylvania Germans. Though faded, such traits can be restored and treasured. Our descendants can recapture this spirit and rekindle, in whatever far corners of the globe they settle, their ancestors' love of the Creator, the bountiful Earth, and the seasonal rhythms.