You are probably familiar with the Amish culture if you live in the Midwest, specifically Pennsylvania. This religious community generally avoids modern-day rituals. They’re a lovely bunch, but they prefer to keep their personal lives private, so little is known about them. They also have fascinating customs that you will find fascinating! We’ve compiled a list of interesting facts for you to learn about.
These Incredible Facts About Amish Culture Will Educate You In The Best Way
What Car?
You won’t find many drivers in Amish communities. Because the Amish are known for their aversion to modern technology, many of them would travel by horse and carriage. Religious rules prohibit the use of technology, which explains this trend. The Amish are permitted to ride in modern vehicles but are not permitted to drive them.
What Car?
Beards
Although an older Amish man with a long beard is not uncommon, mustaches are not. Mustaches are frowned upon, but beards are permitted because men in the Bible wore beards frequently. As a result, seeing an Amish man with a thick beard is not unusual.
Beards
Believer’s Baptism
“Believer’s baptism,” which is basically a baptism for those reaching adulthood, is a traditional Amish procedure. A believer’s baptism is sometimes referred to as adult baptism because it is believed that faith does not emerge until the age of accountability. When a child is old enough to confess their faith earnestly, they are frequently baptized as believers. This belief arose from the Christian movement of Anabaptism.
Believer’s Baptism
Special Protocol
The Ordnung is a set of rules that govern what can and cannot be done in social situations. The Ordnung laws govern everything from clothing to technology to education. A German word is the source of the terms “command” and “discipline.” Because the Amish have no central church government, each assembly is autonomous and self-governing.
Special Protocol
Local Autonomy
Because there is no centralized religious authority, each church is free to change the Ordnung as they see fit. Each Amish group can have its own set of laws because they have this ability. Some cultures have stricter regulations than others.
Local Autonomy
Rumspringa
When Amish children reach puberty, they usually take part in Rumspringa, a rite of passage that allows them to interact with people from other cultures. Some Amish teenagers are permitted to leave their families to engage in activities that are normally prohibited at home.
Rumspringa
Normal Marriages
Arranged marriages do not exist in the Amish community, contrary to popular belief. The majority of Amish marriages are formed through traditional courtship and dating rituals. There are no arranged marriages with parents or other mediators when it comes to choosing a wedding partner. Young people who want to be baptized into a specific Amish denomination (usually the one where they grew up) must marry within that denomination.
Normal Marriages
Multiple Languages
Amish education includes not one but three languages! From a young age, students are taught English, German, and Pennsylvania Dutch/German. These languages are also spoken in the nations, so if you visit anytime soon, you should expect to hear one of these three.
Multiple Languages
Wedding Season
The majority of Amish weddings take place after the harvest season and communions, which usually take place in October. As a result, the majority of weddings occur in November and December, towards the end of the autumn season. That’s not a particularly long wedding season.
Wedding Season
Healthy
The Amish have a fascinating rule that appears to have improved community well-being. They have a zero-tolerance policy for alcohol and smoking, and statistics show that they have a 40% lower cancer rate than the rest of the world. Given the benefits, perhaps more people should follow this example!
Healthy
Fashion
Due to the restrictions and emphasis on modesty, clothing shopping for the Amish must be relatively simple. They don’t dress in bright colors or patterns, and their clothes are mostly simple colors and designs from the 1700s, so you can mix and match any of their outfits!
Fashion
Origins
In 1693, the first Amish families arrived in America to escape religious persecution in Europe. They chose Pennsylvania as their home because the state values religious liberty. This was an excellent decision, as they are all alive and well today, openly expressing their beliefs!
Origins
Sleeping Together Before Marriage
The Amish, unlike other religious groups, allow couples to share a bed before marrying. The only requirement is that they be fully dressed and able to communicate while lying in bed. This is a way for them to strengthen their relationship before getting married.
Sleeping Together Before Marriage
Tax Rule
The Amish, it turns out, pay the same federal and state taxes as everyone else. On the other hand, the Amish are said to not pay Social Security taxes and thus do not receive benefits.
Tax Rule
The Largest Amish Population
People may believe that because the founding family came from Pennsylvania, the state has the most Amish, but this does not appear to be the case. In fact, if you travel a few hundred miles west of Pennsylvania, you’ll find Ohio, a state that has a few hundred more residents than Pennsylvania.
The Largest Amish Population
Short Education
The educational methods of the Amish are well-known. Amish children also go to private one- or two-room schools. Many Amish children who attend private schools drop out after the eighth grade. Some of them enter the workforce right after their senior year of high school.
Short Education
Right To Vote
Amish people are allowed to vote in US elections, but they do not do so frequently. According to one study, approximately 15% of Amish voters cast ballots. Despite their failure, a small number of people continue to vote.
Right To Vote
Loyal Peacemakers
The Amish religion is primarily pacifist, with a strong emphasis on repentance and the avoidance of conflict. For religious reasons, the Amish refuse to serve in the military or support the death penalty. The Amish are pacifists who believe they are following Jesus’ command to love those who hate them. The Amish despise all forms of violence.
Loyal Peacemakers
Unique Toys
Toys with no faces are frequently given to young Amish children. Pride and vanity are discouraged by the expressionless, blank faces. According to a 2007 sociological report, the dolls are faceless because “all are alike in God’s view,” and the lack of facial features complies with the Bible’s prohibition against graven images. The majority of Amish doll makers chose to remain anonymous.
Unique Toys
Acapella
Amish people do not play musical instruments because they believe it is a form of self-expression that leads to feelings of dominance and pride. The Ausbund, a High German songbook with no musical notation, is the basis for Amish church songs.
Acapella
A Computer For The Amish
Believe it or not, there was a computer designed specifically for Amish communities. The Deskmate word processor lacks Internet access as well as video and music playback. Basic word processing, spreadsheets, and accounting can all be done on the computer. Because some (but not all) Amish use equipment that can only be used for industry, the Deskmate would not violate any long-standing Amish traditions.
A Computer For The Amish
Growing Population
Around 5,000 Amish lived in the United States in 1920. This equates to $300,000 in today’s money. In addition, much of the expansion occurred in the last three decades, when the Amish population was only 84,000 in 1984. The rise is attributed to a belief that God requires larger families, as well as the more practical issue of expanding their farm workforce.
Growing Population
Strict Guidelines For Clothes
Amish clothing is, by definition, simple. Although some sects wear muted colors, the majority of sects wear black and white. Buttons, zippers, and velcro, as well as color, are generally frowned upon and avoided due to the potential for ostentation and decoration. Instead, pins or hook-and-eye closures are frequently used.
Strict Guidelines For Clothes
Isolated From The Community
Following their Rumspringa trip, the Amish youth must make a difficult decision. They must decide whether or not to stay in the church. This is a difficult decision because failing to do so will cut them off from their families and friends for the rest of their lives. This is why 90% of customers stay with you.
Isolated From The Community
Technology Exceptions
The majority of Amish families have strict technology laws, but some are more flexible than others. In the Alona Amish community, tractors, electric refrigerators, bathtubs with running water, and propane gas are all permitted. Mobile phones are also allowed in some societies.
Technology Exceptions
No Rings
The wearing of no rings during the engagement or wedding is one of the many Amish traditions. No jewelry is allowed if a couple agrees to get engaged, and this rule also applies to the wedding ceremony. This is just one of many strange Amish wedding traditions.
No Rings
Secret Engagements
In Amish cultures, keeping engagements hidden from families and the community for months is a common practice. In the spring, most couples get engaged, but they don’t tell their families until the summer. The family then keeps the news a secret until the ceremony in October.
Secret Engagements
No White Dress
Amish brides don’t wear white on their wedding day; instead, they wear blue. The bride, as well as her bridesmaids, design their own gowns. After this day, she wears the same wedding gown as her main church gown and is buried in it.
No White Dress
Traditional Food
A traditional Amish wedding dish is celery. It’s the main ingredient in a lot of soups and other dishes. It’s also used as a decoration in place of flowers. When a family is planning a wedding, they usually begin growing celery months ahead of time. And that’s before the proposal goes public!
Traditional Food
No Real Retirement Age
Between the ages of 50 and 70, Amish people begin to reduce their daily activities. This is also dictated by their physical condition. They usually move to a designated grandparent’s house on their family’s property. When older people are in good health, they tend to stay at home, and their daughters take care of them as their health declines.
No Real Retirement Age
Baptism
Between the ages of 16 and 25, Amish people are baptized into their church. Before that, the individual is not allowed to marry. They are only allowed to marry members of the same church. Not to mention the fact that it usually happens very quickly. This is unusual compared to other forms of Christianity because it is up to the parents to decide whether or not to baptize their children. People in the Amish culture, on the other hand, have the freedom to choose whether or not to be baptized. Because children are not of legal age to make such a decision, they are not baptized.
Baptism
Photographs Taken
The Amish don’t mind people taking pictures of them, but they aren’t allowed to take pictures of themselves. They are also not allowed to keep them in their homes. The dolls and clothing follow the same logic: to keep them humble and resist vanity.
Photographs Taken
A Frolic
Barn-raising is referred to among the Amish as a frolic. They make a big deal out of it when a new barn is needed. The event is expected to draw hundreds of people. Manual labor is delegated to the men, while meal preparation is delegated to the women. It’s a popular pastime.
A Frolic
Success Rate
If an Amish person abandons the Amish church, he or she will almost certainly lose contact with his or her relatives. They will be shunned and excommunicated as a result. Nearly 90% of Amish teenagers, on the other hand, chose to remain in the church.
Success Rate
Dog Farming
Despite the Amish’s noble reputation, one aspect of their culture takes on a much darker hue. Some Amish communities have turned to dog farming as a new source of income due to rising farmland prices and dwindling demand for small-scale agriculture. In reality, the Amish own approximately 20% of all puppy mills in the United States.
Dog Farming
High Inbreeding
Despite the fact that the Amish do not marry their cousins on purpose, there is a high risk of inbreeding in their families. Due to the small size of Amish families, they don’t have a lot of options when it comes to marrying another Amish person.
High Inbreeding
No Recruits
Another intriguing feature of the Amish is their aversion to evangelism. They have a long history of keeping non-members out and isolating themselves from modern life. As a result, it’s no surprise that the Amish refuse to recruit. Furthermore, the Amish’s most ardent supporters are unable to join the church.
No Recruits
“English” Outsiders
Your race, skin tone, or country of origin are unimportant to the Amish. Someone who isn’t Amish is referred to as an English person. It is primarily due to long-standing immigration patterns. It makes sense when you consider that the Amish are not known for changing their traditions.
“English” Outsiders
Memories
Amish people do not have Instagram accounts, as one might expect. They don’t use cameras, so it’s probably obvious. Did you know, however, that they don’t make paintings either? It’s a little perplexing because a brush and canvas aren’t exactly cutting-edge technology, so what’s the reasoning behind it? In Amish tradition, when a loved one passes away, the only thing left to remember them is their memories. Having a graven image, such as a portrait or a painting of someone, is prohibited.
Memories
No Dating
It’s no surprise that the Amish only marry people from their culture because they need someone who will support their religion. It’s difficult to persuade someone to change their lifestyle and behaviors in order to marry completely. In the Amish culture, however, there are significant dating restrictions. It is forbidden to date someone who has not been baptized in the Amish faith. You are not allowed to date until you have been accepted into the group. Not to mention the fact that only public places are used for dating.
No Dating
Blessed Engagement
Any major life event in the Amish community necessitates careful consideration and involves the entire community. People cannot simply get engaged and marry without the permission of others. Once a couple starts dating, it doesn’t take long for them to get engaged. When the man proposes, he and his fiancee must seek permission from the church. After the church has blessed them, they are allowed to marry.
Blessed Engagement
The Honeymoon
Consider spending your honeymoon with your parents. It appears to be very off-putting from the outside. On the other hand, tradition is deeply rooted in Amish cultures, and this is one of them. The bride’s parents’ home will be the starting point for the honeymoon. As a thank you, the bride and groom will clean the parents’ house the next day.
The Honeymoon
The Honeymoon Continues
Amish honeymoons are made up of several parts that are spread out over several locations. After spending the first night at the bride’s parents’ house and meeting all of their relatives as husband and wife, the couple would pack up and move on to the next house. If the newlywed couple does not yet own a home, they will live with the bride’s parents until they are able to buy one.
The Honeymoon Continues
Not Amish
Don’t jump to conclusions if you see someone wearing a bonnet; they might not even be Amish. Mennonites are among them. Despite their similarities, the Amish and Mennonites are not the same. In reality, mixing the two will irritate them greatly. Mennonites, like the Amish, are a non-Orthodox Christian sect. They do not live in isolation and are part of more modern cultures. Many of them are tech-savvy and drive cars. On rare occasions, a Mennonite’s attire can be mistaken for that of a non-Mennonite.
Not Amish
Meidung
Despite having many restrictions on their activities and lifestyles, the Amish are surprisingly permissive and encourage people to make their own choices. For those who break the rules, however, there is a framework in place. It’s essentially the Amish equivalent of a “time-out.” There will undoubtedly be consequences if anyone is found to be breaking their ethics code. One of them is meidung, which means the individual is shunned by the community.
Meidung
Being Excommunicated
Although Meidung refers to being shunned by the Amish, Bann is a far more serious punishment. You’ll be placed in the Bann and treated as an outsider if the transgression is severe enough to result in permanent excommunication. You may be shunned for an extended period of time depending on your ‘crime.’ Even if it appears harsh, the goal is for the person to admit their mistake and apologize.
Being Excommunicated
DNA Testing
Thanks to modern technology, everyone nowadays wants to get DNA testing to learn more about their ancestors and possibly locate long-lost relatives except for the Amish, who will not allow it. That is why it is so simple to marry your third cousin in their community. They believe that inbreeding is a result of God’s will.
DNA Testing
Potlucks
You’ll want to be a part of this celebration. The Amish are a very nice group of people. The concept of hosting and participating in shared meals is extremely important in their culture. Because it’s essentially one big potluck, everyone brings something to the large table. It occurs frequently, and it is an excellent opportunity to catch up with others.
Potlucks
No Church Buildings
Isn’t one of the most enjoyable aspects of visiting religious groups around the world seeing all of the art and places of worship that they have created? In Amish country, for example, tourists will not find any churches. Ornate churches and cathedrals do not appeal to them. They believe that they don’t need a church or anything fancy to study the Bible because they can study it anywhere.
No Church Buildings