Amish Facts
Amish Facts
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Interesting Amish Facts: |
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The Amish immigrated into Pennsylvania in the 1700s, and the population today in the United States is believed to be roughly a quarter of a million. |
Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Ohio have the most significant Amish populations in the United States. There is also a smaller Amish population in Canada of roughly 1,500. |
Smaller Amish populations exist in Wisconsin, New York, Michigan, Missouri, and Kentucky. |
The Amish church has a set of rules called the Ordnung which dictates how a person lives and what rules to follow. |
Ordnung is German for the word 'order'. The Ordnung of one Amish community may differ from that of another. |
In the Amish religion a person is baptized between the ages of 16 and 25. |
An Amish person cannot be married in the church unless they are baptized. |
Languages common in the Amish community include Pennsylvania German, Bernese German, Amish High German, and English. |
The Amish believe in simple and traditional cuisine. Food is a major factor in the Amish social world. It is often center to fundraising events, weddings, potlucks, and the Amish often sell their homemade food at markets to outsiders. |
In the Amish affiliations there are differences about what is acceptable, but they all follow the absolute ban on cars, radio, television, and often the internet as well. |
Some Amish affiliations allow for tractors, rototillers, powered lawn mowers, propane gas, mechanical milkers, mechanical refrigerators, indoor flushing toilets, running water, chainsaws, and motorized washers, however many do not. |
The eight main Old Amish affiliations include Lancaster, Elkhart-LaGrange, Holmes Old Order, Buchanan Medford, Geauga I, Swartzentruber, Geauga II, and Swiss. |
Since 1950 in the United States there have only been about 75 people, considered to be outsiders that have joined the Amish and stayed with them. |
All Amish in the U.S. are descendants of about 200 founders from the 1700s. This presents a particular set of health problems due to genetics. Many of the health problems are metabolic disorders. |
Despite the genetic disorders the Amish often do not get the diseases associated with modern life. They live a healthier lifestyle and have lower rates of cancer, even among those who smoke. |
When Amish children reach the age of 16 they participate in Rumspringa. They leave their community and try out the outside world. Most return to their communities. |
Amish men grow their beards after Rumspringa and baptism. |
The Amish do not believe in violence. They try to exist without it, and murder is extremely rare. |
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