7 Charming Quirks of the Lehigh Valley and Pennsylvania

One of the best parts about getting to know a new place is to learn about its charming regional quirks and customs. Lehigh Valley is certainly no different!

Lehigh Valley and Pennsylvania as a whole is home to dozens of laws and customs that may leave outsiders scratching their heads.

Here are a few of those unique characteristics that make Lehigh Valley a unique place to live.

You’re Bound to See The Amish 

One of the unique characteristics about Pennsylvania as a whole is the population of Amish and Mennonites that reside here. In fact there are more than 50,000 Amish people living in Lancaster County right now!

While you traverse the state keep an eye out for buggies on the road and keep your ears open for people speaking Pennsylvania Dutch. The Amish population is a historic part of the state’s history and something you won’t find outside of Pennsylvania.

Let’s Play Quoits!

Another local tradition is the game quoits. This game is common in Lehigh Valley but less so everywhere else. The game involves throwing rubber rings on different boards to score points. The game is commonly played at parties and during tailgating festivities.

Get Ready For Snow! 

Lots of regions have snowfall but few have quite as much as Lehigh Valley! The region on average receives 32 inches of snow per year - that’s nearly three feet of snow.

Not a State, A Commonwealth 

Though referred to as a state, Pennsylvania is technically a commonwealth. There are four states that are technically commonwealths in the United States: Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky, and Massachusetts.

Regardless of the term, states and commonwealths are exactly the same. States are believed to have adopted the commonwealth denotation in their respective state constitutions to show that they are a sovereign and free political body aimed at creating a political body for the common good. 

Pennsylvania also uses some differing terminology when referring to places inside the state borders. The state is made up of counties, townships, boroughs and cities. The term ‘town’ is not used like in other states. In fact there is only one incorporated town in the entire state! 

Easter Mints

Once you get to Lehigh Valley you will forever associate mints with Easter. This is because the Nazareth Moravian Church is known for making thousands of mints ahead of the Easter holiday. The centuries-old tradition has more recently been funding food banks and local scholarships.

We Love Musikfest

Some people may think it's just a music festival, but residents of Lehigh Valley are passionate about Musikfest. 

For those who aren’t from the area, Musikfest is an annual 10-day music festival in Bethlehem. The annual festivities bring an estimated 1 million visitors to the area every August.

While many embrace the moniker “There’s no restin’ when you’re festin,’” there are some residents who aren’t as enthusiastic and make sure they are out of town when the music starts playing. 

Fastnacht Feast

Ever heard of a Fastnacht? Well, you soon will. The donut is a traditional dish during Fastnacht Day - a Pennsylvania Dutch holiday the day before Ash Wednesday. As tradition holds on this day you eat all the best foods in preparation for the Lenten fast.

These seven quirks are just a few of the many things that make Lehigh Valley a wonderful and unique place to call home.