Before coming to the New World Moravians in Herrnhut, Saxony, found that believers who share the same situation often develop a strong bond that provides encouragement and support to all.
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A Sister at the Miksch House
Old Salem.
Note the blue ribbon indicating her choir,
the Married Sister's choir. |
This led to the organization of Moravian believers into unique groups called choirs. The word “choir” does not indicate a singing function but simply means "group". Life in some of the choirs was communal. Choir members ate, worked, worshiped, slept in dormitories, and attended school together.
Choirs were established according to age, gender, and marital status. Generally, each choir had a leader that cared for the spiritual welfare of the group. Count Zinzendorf saw the value of having group interests and activities, and he felt that the teachings of Christ would have more significance when applied to individuals of the same sex, age and marital status.
All Moravian communities did not follow exactly the same
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An unknown Sister.
Note the pink ribbon indicating
her choir,
the Single Sister's Choir |
organizational blueprint. Generally, though, early Moravian children remained with their parents during infancy, but at the age of 18 months they began to be cared for in nurseries. Boys and girls lived together in the nursery until they turned four, when they became members of the Little Boys' Choir or the Little Girls' Choir. From ages 12 to 19, girls and boys belonged to the Older Girls' Choir or the Older Boys' Choir. From age 19 until marriage, the women belonged to the Single Sisters' Choir and the men belonged to the Single Brethren Choir. Married adults lived in the Married Peoples' Choir.
Ribbons worn in the white cap, or haube, of females reveal the wearer's status and to which choir they belonged: blue ribbons being worn by married women pink by unmarried girls and women, red by little girls, and white by widows.
