10+ Facts That Will Change the Way You Look at the Amish
They use a German Bible
Though they now mostly live in places like Pennsylvania and Ohio, the Amish people are actually descended from Swiss immigrants who moved to America to escape religious persecution in the 18th century. Since then, they have used the same version of the Bible, which is in German.
They finish school after eighth grade
Amish people don't go to college or pursue any type of further education. Since they live and work entirely within their communities, they begin working in jobs like construction, farming, and shopkeeping at an early age. They attend local Amish schools until they become teenagers, then move straight on to the workplace.
Women are not allowed to preach
Amish people a very traditional, and that involves holding traditional gender roles. Men are seen as the leaders of the community guiding its people, so it makes sense that they would choose men to guide them in prayer and worship. There are many religions around the world which forbid women from preaching.
Only adults can be members of the Church
Amish people are Anabaptists, which means that they don't agree with baptizing a baby after its birth. They believe that, for a baptism to be meaningful, it needs to be the person's choice. Therefore, they do not baptise babies or children, instead waiting until they truly understand their decision.
They don't have their picture taken
If you know anything about the Amish, you know that they're not fans of modern technology. However, that's not the only reason why they don't like pictures. They believe that taking posed photos amounts to creating 'graven images', forbidden by the ten commandments. However, some Amish people believe that candid photos are less sinful.
Their first language is Pennsylvania-Deutsch
Though they are descended from German speaking Swiss people, the language they speak now isn't exactly the same. The dialect used in Amish communities is called Pennsylvania-Deutsch or Pennsylvania-Dutch, and is a unique evolution of High German - the dialect spoken in places like Austria and Switzerland.
Teenagers are encouraged to leave for a while
One of the most important Amish traditions is called Rumspringa - if you've seen the show Breaking Amish, that's what it's based on. Young adults from Amish families are encouraged to go out and experience the modern world in all its glory, so they can decide what sort of life they want to live.
Almost 90% choose to stay
You might think that leaving the Amish church and experiencing things like iPhones and fast food for the first time might make you want to leave and explore everything else across the globe, but in reality, that's not the case. Their sense of community is so strong that over 90% of people choose to stay after Rumspringa.
Moustaches are banned
A big bushy beard is a trademark look for Amish men, but have you noticed that they never have moustaches to match? There's a strange reason for this. Back in the day, having a moustache was associated with being in the military, so the Amish shaved them off since they disagree with it.
They give their children dolls without faces
Similar to how posed photographs are considered examples of graven images, the Amish also disagree with having dolls that look like people. They don't deprive their children of the toy, though - they simply make their own cloth dolls without faces that come with little Amish outfits.
They're not the same as Mennonites
Don't get them confused! The Amish are not the only religious group in America that follow the old ways. The Mennonites are another group, but their rules are slightly different, making it easy to tell them apart. For example, Mennonites can wear patterned clothing, and Mennonites use more technology.
They have specific computers
In this modern era, if you run a business, it's almost impossible without a computer or phone for communicating with customers. For this reason, a specific type of computer was developed that only has access to word processors, spreadsheets, and accounting software, ensuring that business can stay running without the temptation of the internet or minesweeper.
They call the non-Amish 'English'
As German speaking descendants of immigrants, the Amish have always had a very distinct identity from the rest of the country in which they live. As such, they differentiate themselves in this way. It doesn't matter what nationality you are or what language you speak, if you're not Amish, you're English.
Church services are held in people's homes
Surprisingly, for such a religious group, the Amish don't have specific church buildings. Instead, services are held inside peoples houses. Each week, a different family hosts the service. Since Amish families are so big, and their houses quite small, a service usually ends up taking over every single room, with the pastor walking throughout the house to preach.
The women wear their wedding dresses to Church every week
Instead of going to a big bridal store like the kind you see on Say Yes to the Dress, Amish women make their own wedding dresses. After the wedding, that dress then becomes their Sunday best clothes, and they wear it to church and other religious ceremonies.
Some Amish pimp out their buggies with stereo systems
Instead of cars, the Amish use old-fashioned horses and buggies. If you take a trip to places like Lancaster, Pennsylvania, you'll notice them parked up on the side of the road. You might also realize that some have modern additions, like speaker systems and lights.
The population doubles every 20 years
In Amish communities, most families are big families, because having lots of children is encouraged by the Bible - "Go forth and multiply". As a result, the sheer number of children born each year means that the number of people living in Amish communities typically doubles every two decades.
Most of them are descended from 200 families
Of all the Amish people living today across the United States, the majority of them are descended from just 200 families who escaped religious persecution in Switzerland 300 years ago. This has some downsides - the shallow gene pool means that there's a much higher rate of things like birth defects within the Amish community.
They don't own cars, but they will use taxis
You don't have to be Amish to figure out that heading to the grocery store in a horse-drawn buggy is a lot of effort. Additionally, since the Amish have such big families, they buy a lot of stuff. Since they can't drive home, what's the solution? Taxis. Some drivers have made a killing being there to help the Amish community.
They will never join the military
The Amish are a group of pacifists, which means that they don't agree with any sort of war, conflict, or fighting. As a result, they never become members of the US military. If war were to break out and an Amish man was conscripted, he would refuse to serve.
They use solar panels and wind turbines for electricity
Some Amish people take the rules into their own hands when it comes to using electricity. Instead of avoiding it altogether, some instead think it's more important that the electricity they use is off-grid. As such, they use their own solar power panels and wind turbines to generate electricity just for their properties.
They don't play any musical instruments
In Amish communities, singing songs is an everyday part of life and a big part of their worship services. However, did you know that they don't play musical instruments at all? They believe that singing comes from the soul, and prefer to make music that way instead of with man-made instruments.
They shun people who have done wrong
If you break the rules in an Amish community, prepare to be shunned! This is the process in which every single other Amish person has to ignore you - they cannot look at you, they can't speak to you, and they definitely can't hang out with you. This happens until you truly repent for your sin.
They don't want people to join them
Have you ever walked down the street and been handed leaflets inviting you to try a new church, or seen ads online? The Amish will never be one of them - and not just because they don't use the internet. They're not evangelists, which means that they don't preach to people outside the community and aren't trying to get people to join them.
They avoid modern medicine
When it comes to avoiding modern things, the Amish are the masters - TV, music, the internet, fashionable clothes, and even the wonders of modern medicine. If a member of the Amish community gets sick, it's natural remedies and prayer or nothing, definitely no pills or injections.
It's really hard to convert
Want to live a quiet life with a slower pace and appreciate the Amish people's commitment to tradition and community? If you want to join, it's not totally forbidden - but it is almost impossible. The Amish are wary of the intentions of outsiders, so they really test people's commitment before joining.
Only one Amish person has ever been convicted of homicide
The Amish are famously peaceful and disagree with violence, so it might be a shock to hear that one of them has been convicted of homicide - only one, though. In 1993, an Amish man named Edward Gingerich killed his wife after being diagnosed with schizophrenia.
They can get buggy DUIs
Just because you're Amish, that doesn't mean you can escape the rules of the road! Drunk driving is still a thing, even if you're behind two horses instead of a wheel. That's not the only issue when it comes to buggies - like cars, they must have certain safety features such as indicators, and being without them can result in a hefty fine.
Couples get to know each other by 'bundling'
How do you get to know your fiancé when you live in an Amish community? Bundling! This strange tradition consists of the bride-to-be and groom-to-be being wrapped in a blanket or sack to stop them from touching each other as they lie next to each other in bed all night in one of their parents' homes. How romantic...
They love to vacation in Florida
Contrary to popular beliefs, Amish people are allowed to have fun - and they have a lot of it! Just like us, they love to go on a beach vacation, and Florida is their destination of choice. In particular, the town of Pinecraft in Sarasota is a favorite.
Their rules have never been written down
Other than the rules taken from the Bible, there is no official written-down version of the Amish community's code of conduct. Called the Ordnung, it is a set of rules on how Amish people should dress, worship, and go about their daily lives. Instead of being written, the rules have simply been passed down through generations through action.
Their songs can last up to 30 minutes
They don't play any musical instruments, but they love singing... like, REALLY love singing. So much so, that one of their traditional songs last over 30 minutes! Some people have described Amish singing as quite slow and droning, but that's because they believe it comes from the soul, rather than it being designed to sound good.
Women only own four dresses
The Amish frown upon over-consumption, so they don't buy something new for every event like some of us. In fact, women typically only own four dresses - one for wash, one for wear, one for dress, and one for spear. When you think about it, they have to make all of their clothes, which takes a lot of effort! It's understandable that four is enough for them.
Their clothes don't have collars, zips, or patterns
The Amish are famous for their plain clothing. They prefer to live a simple life, and view a lot of our clothes as excessive. In particular, there's a list of features that should never appear on Amish clothing, including zips, collars, and frills, and they should never be made out of patterned fabric.
Barn-building is a social event
When it comes to social gatherings in the Amish community, none are as important as the building, or 'raising', of a barn - well, except maybe church. The whole community comes out to watch the men bring a barn up from its foundations, plenty of delicious food is provided, and games are played.
Women aren't allowed to cut their hair
You can't tell, since they always wear little white 'prayer caps' as part of their dress code, but it is customary for Amish women to avoid cutting their hair after marriage just as men stop shaving their beards. While they are allowed to do small maintenance trims, anything significant is forbidden - and they don't even think about coloring.
Their songbook has no notes
Just like the Ordnung, the Amish songbook - the Ausbund - doesn't have any musical notation written in it. All of the words to the songs and the hymns are written down, but there are no instructions on what tune to sing them in. That information has simply been passed down from generation to generation.
They're known for their dairy and bakery businesses
People living on the edge of Amish country discovered this fact years ago, but the Amish businesses are great for fresh, organic produce grown without pesticides, traditional bread made without preservatives, and raw dairy products without chemicals. In addition, they're known to be some of the best people when it comes to construction projects due to their expertise and customer service.
Their government ID has no photo
Since the Amish people fundamentally disagree with posing for having their photograph taken due to it being a 'graven image', they also refuse to have their picture taken to be put on their official government identification cards. And to think, you're worried about how hot (or not) you look in yours!
A group of Amish people formed a band
As part of their own Rumspringa, three young Amish men discovered how much fun secular music and musical instruments can be. They decided to form a band, named the Amish Outlaws, instead of returning to their community. They still perform today, wearing stage outfits that resemble traditional Amish clothing.
Two Amish men were arrested for dealing substances on motorcycles
Many people view the Amish as being incredibly clean-cut, living a pure and simple life. However, there are bad apples in every batch. In 1998, two Amish men were arrested in Pennsylvania for running a business selling suspicious white powders which they delivered while riding motorcycles, shocking the Amish community and America as a whole.
They don’t have to be poor
While their lives are simple, the Amish are not impoverished. Rather, some Amish people - particularly business owners - are incredibly wealthy. It's hard to tell when they're not sporting designer fashion or driving luxury sports cars, but the money is definitely there, and they have plenty of it.
They don’t think photography steals their souls
One rumor that has persisted for years about the Amish people and their avoidance of photography is that they are scared that the flash of the camera will steal their soul. Well, we're here to tell you that it's absolutely not the case. While they don't use the technology, they do know that it doesn't have any soul-stealing capabilities.
Teens can’t be excommunicated or shunned
Shunning and excommunication are punishments reserved for the worst rule-breakers in Amish communities, but if that rule breaker is a child or teen, then they won't have to face them. Since they're not baptized until they're adults, teens technically aren't full members of the church, and therefore cannot be excommunicated.
There are only 200 converts
It is believed that there are now almost 400,000 Amish people living in the United States. Of them, only around 200 are people who converted rather than being born Amish, which really just goes to show how hard it is to convert. The simple life isn't for everyone - just ask Paris and Nicole.
Women can’t become teachers
In America, it is believed that around 75% of teachers are women, and traditionally it has been seen as a very female career choice. On the contrary, Amish women are not allowed to be teachers. Instead, that responsibility falls to the men, while the women are homemakers and raise the children.
Their ministers don’t choose their position
A lot of priests, bishops, deacons, and ministers talk about receiving the call from God and choosing to embark on training, but it works a little differently for the Amish. Instead, the community elders choose men to take on the role of minister, selecting the most virtuous who will be a good leader for the community.
Their businesses fail less
On average, it is thought that 20% of new businesses collapse in their first year, with that number rising to 60% within three years. However, that's not the case for the Amish. Their businesses, be it in baking or carpentry, are much less likely to collapse and typically go on to be very successful for a long time.
They still celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas
The Amish people may live simpler lives than we do, but that doesn't mean they can't still celebrate! While black Friday shopping is off the table, Thanksgiving and Christmas meals are huge events enjoyed by the whole community. Of course, the religious aspect of Christmas is also incredibly important to the Amish.
They’re allowed to eat sugar
While the majority of the Amish diet is made up of meat and vegetables grown on their communities' farms, they do also have quite the sweet tooth. It's not just bread that they sell in their bakeries, after all. While they don't eat highly processed candy, they often enjoy cakes and sweet pastries.
The women hang out to make quilts
What do you and your friends do when you hang out on the weekend? Go see a movie, enjoy a bottomless brunch, or maybe visit the mall? Amish women get together for a nice long quilting session, sewing beautiful patterns while having a nice chat about their weeks and what's going on in their lives.
Their dead are buried three days after dying
Death has a quick turnaround in Amish communities. Once an Amish person has died, funeral preparations begin right away, with members of the community pitching in to help dig graves and prepare the deceased. Generally, a person will be laid to rest within only three days of their death.
A woman’s bonnet color indicates her marriage status
You might be most used to seeing Amish women in small white prayer caps with long ribbon tails, but that's not the only piece of headwear they can be seen in. In some groups, the white prayer cap is worn until a woman marries, after which she wears a black bonnet to show her maturity.
Some groups started vaccinating children after a polio outbreak
Though the majority of Amish people reject modern medicine, there are some subgroups who willingly vaccinate their children. This change came about during the 1970s, when a devastating polio outbreak swept through the community, affecting many children and families. Since then, there has been a decrease in instances of various illnesses which are vaccinated against.
The youngest son is expected to take over the farm
In a lot of cultures, it is the eldest son who takes over a family business when his father retires. On the other hand, for Amish people, it is the youngest son who takes on this duty. When Amish parents retire, their youngest son's family moves into the main home, while they live in an annex.
They have middle initials, but not middle names
It's not customary for children born into Amish communities to be given middle names, however there is some use in them. When you've got hundreds of children named one of the popular Amish names, it can be hard to differentiate. For this reason, boys are simply given a middle initial which is the first letter of his father's name.
They're allowed to vote
Just because they live the simple life, that doesn't mean that the Amish are not political. Contrary to popular belief, they have the right to vote just like every other American citizen. While not many presidential candidates live the same lifestyle as them, they still exercise their right to vote in every election.
They have lower rates of cancer and diabetes
As it turns out, spending your day doing exercise in the form of hard labor on the farm and only eating home grown organic food has some great health benefits! Who would've thought? Because of their lifestyle, Amish people have less chance of developing diseases like diabetes and cancer.
There are bus companies just for Amish people
Though they prefer the old-fashioned horse and buggy, there are times that the Amish need to travel long distances, and some transport companies have sprung up to take advantage of that. For example, the company Pioneer Trails runs regular bus journeys down to Florida for vacations.
They don't stay in one town their whole lives
Contrary to popular belief, Amish families don't live on the same plot of land for hundreds of years, generation after generation. In fact, they actually move around quite a lot. A big reason for this is that families can often have disagreements with the way a community is organized, so move away to find somewhere that better fits their interpretation of the Amish rules.
They don’t trade or barter
A lot of people associate the Amish with a historical way of life, so it makes sense to think that they engage in trading and bartering at their markets to buy their wares. However, this is not the case. Amish stores operate just like ours, where everything has a set price.
One of their favorite recipes is Shoofly Pie
Amish food is warm, hearty, and traditional, often cooked in large batches to feed big families and even sometimes whole communities. A popular recipe in Amish communities is Shoofly pie, which has a crumbly shell and a decadent brown sugar and molasses filling, topped with more sugar in the form of a pastry crumb. Sounds delicious!
Their farms are more productive
You really should never question the Amish work ethic. Even though they don't use modern machinery, their farms and other businesses have been shown to be much more efficient in producing than farms run by other cultures in America, even those that have the benefits of things like tractors and mechanical plows.
The church started after a disagreement with the Mennonites
Which came first, the Amish or the Mennonites? Well, the Mennonites, a group founded by Menno Simons in the Netherlands. A group of his original followers began disagreeing with the way his leadership and teachings were going, and separated to form their own group where they could control their rules and customs. And so, the Amish were born.
The Industrial Revolution split the amish
When the Industrial Revolution took place in the nineteenth century, it led to a lot of new technologies with the potential to improve lives being introduced in quick succession. This caused many disagreements within the Amish community, as they could not agree on what technologies to adopt. As a result, the community split in two.
The current Amish are technically called Old Order Amish
The split that occurred as a result of the Industrial Revolution led to two factions of Amish existing: those who welcomed the new technologies, and those who wanted to avoid them. Today's Amish communities are descended from the group that avoid technology, the Old Order Amish. Those who welcomed technology have overtime been absorbed by the Mennonites and are no longer considered Amish.
They thought having phones would encourage gossip
One of the reasons why Amish communities were slow to adopt phones goes beyond their general avoidance of technology. In particular, church elders back in the day thought that phones would make secret communication too easy, leading to gossip and fractured communities. Nowadays, the Amish typically only use phones for business reasons, and prefer to visit each other in person to chat.
They don’t receive government benefits
The Amish like to stay as off-grid as possible in order to keep their lives simple and safe from the modern world, and this means having as little government intervention as possible. They don't pay into social security and receive no financial aid from the government. If an Amish person or family is struggling, their community will rally around to help.
But they do pay taxes
While they don't pay into social security, the Amish do actually pay their taxes to the government - they're not freeloaders, they have the same responsibilities as the rest of us. One of the big ones is property tax, due to the large amount of land and houses they often own.
They’re allowed to have fun
Contrary to popular belief, Amish people are in fact allowed to have fun! Granted, they do spend most of their time working, and their church services can be quite long. However, in their spare time they can often be found playing a game of volleyball, or even drag racing their buggies!
Amish women are expected to submit to their husbands
Throughout history, women have often been expected to submit to their husbands, just like it says in the Bible. The Amish maintain this today, with the man acting almost like the king in his own household, with his wife and children all looking to him for guidance.
They get new white outfits when they die
White isn't a color that is worn often by Amish people, other than the white shirts sometimes worn by the men and the women's prayer caps. After all, it's really hard to get farm stains out of white. However, when they die, they are buried in brand new white clothes for their journey to heaven to symbolise purity and holiness.
They don’t support same-sex marriage
Given their commitment to traditional values and adherence to the law of the Bible, you're probably not surprised to hear that the Amish do not believe in same-sex marriage, meaning a gay couple will never marry within an Amish community. It is likely that there are some Amish people who are gay, but it is not widely accepted.
They work from sunrise to sunset
There's no iPhone alarm to wake you up here! The Amish live by the sun, getting up and beginning a day's work when it rises, resting for lunch when it is at its peak, and settling down for the evening when it starts to set. Of course, they have traditional clocks - but the sun is much easier.
They live longer than us
As a general trend, members of the Amish community have much longer lifespans than people who lead a more modern lifestyle, despite their avoidance of modern medicine. They are much more active, which may have something to do with it. We could all learn something from them!
The show Amish Mafia is completely made up
If you're a fan of the wacky reality shows on channels like TLC and Lifetime, then you might be familiar with the show Amish Mafia. However, don't let it shape your opinion of the community too much - it's all completely false! Lebanon Levi isn't even Amish.
Several generations live in the same house
Amish people are incredibly close with their communities and their families, so it makes sense that there are lots of generations living in the same house. Having children, parents, grandparents, and even great grandparents in the house means more hands to pitch in and help with chores and farm work.
They don’t read eulogies at funerals
Amish funerals, however plain they may be, are designed to be happy events - a celebration of a life well lived and a person much loved, rather than a sad ceremony of mourning. As such, you won't hear any eulogies being read at an Amish funeral. Instead, songs are much more common.
They are also called the plain people
The Amish have several nicknames, one of which is 'The Plain People'. It's really not difficult to see where this one came from. Their clothes have no patterns or adornments, their houses are traditional, and their lives are lacking in many of the modern frivolities we take for granted.
Not all Amish groups are the same
Most Amish people follow the same traditions and live the same kind of lifestyle, but there are actually individual groups with some variety that fall under the Amish umbrella. With their rules never having been written down, they are somewhat up to interpretation, and each community will take a slightly unique approach. Not only this, but they don't all agree either!