The Amish

introduction

The Amish are known for their simple lifestyle and simple dress and more. They don’t use electrical appliances. In order not to interfere with time, not to replace face-to-face conversations as much as possible, and to keep independence. The Amish appreciate rural life, manual work … And all under the auspices of living what they interpret as the word of God.

The Amish population is mainly populated in North America. In cities like Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania … in the United States.
And Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Manitoba and New Brunswick in Canada

The Amish are originally from Europe (most of them are  German or Swiss German origin) and Due to the religious persecution, security concerns and more …… they immigrated to North America and spread to other places over the years.

The Amish’s customs

The Amish are known as people who live in closed communities that maintain a simple lifestyle. Their typical style of simple Amish wear is an expression of their faith, and social separation from the world It shows loyalty and group identity .they are most often expressed in broad-brimmed black hats, dark-colored suits, straight-cut coats, wide pants, solid-colored shirts, and black socks and shoes. Their shirts may fasten with buttons. Amish women and girls wear modest dresses that are made from solid-colored with long sleeves and a full skirt. These dresses are covered with a cape and apron and are fastened with straight pins or snaps.

the Amish’s occupations and transportation

people ” because of their simple way of life. they are working in farming- the center of Amish’s work life. They are involved in business, most in carpentry and sales of farm products.

Amish people do not use modern means of transportation, like cars. They ride in black horse-drawn carriages and even use their own bicycles, which are called scooter bikes.

Amish people work. Often they farm, but they also work in other jobs and businesses like: fieldwork , carpentry , farming , cooking and sewing . Their church recommends acceptable types of work, which may vary among churches.

The Amish’s education and religion

The Amish learn in one-room schools. They are typically built by the community on donated land. The grounds usually include a softball or baseball field as well as some playground equipment and outhouses.

You might think of a one-room schoolhouse filled with 30-35 students – most likely all siblings and cousins. Amish students attend school from age 6  through 14 or 15. Their teacher is usually an unmarried Amish woman who also has an 8th-grade education. She teaches all 8 grades herself, though she might ask older students to help with the younger students. Because it is easier to be a teacher before she is married, teachers are typically among the ages of 18 and 22.

the students learn some history, geography, social studies, art, and science. Students learn three languages in school, including Pennsylvania Dutch, High German, and English. Each of these classes is designed to help students be successful in their Amish communities, as well as equipped to do business with the outside world.

Their religion (Anabaptist) is not something they teach in school. The Amish community considers religion a responsibility of the students’ parents.

They are very extreme when it comes to religion.
It all starts with baptism among the ages of 16 and 23
Then he or she is allowed to marry only within the settings of faith
And all this is a kind of acceptance for the Amish community. Their churches are characterized by rules and one of the rules is the prohibition on the use of electrical appliances.( “The Amish people appreciate rural life, manual work”) . And this is why in addition to the basic subjects they also learn fieldwork , carpentry , farming and cooking or sewing , they learn by doing.

The Amish homes and family life 

The houses are usually large with simple designs. Most feature white siding of some type. Porches and decks are common. There’s a detached barn close to the house.

The large houses serve two purposes,

First, the house typically provides space for larger families. The bedrooms are upstairs with the downstairs open for sitting, dining, and cooking. Second, the larger rooms on the first floor or the open basement allow for their church service to be held there when it is their turn. That typically happens once to twice a year depending on the size of the church district. The open space also facilitates the extended family gatherings that are so common.

The family is the most important social unit in the Amish culture. Large families with seven to ten children are common. Chores are clearly divided by gender role in the Amish home – the man usually works on the farm, while the wife (homemaker)  does the washing, cleaning, cooking, and other household chores. There are exceptions, but typically the father is considered the head of the Amish household.

Why ?

The lives of the Amish are quite difficult when it comes to using manual things and not electrical appliances

Or those warm clothes
But all of these things characterize them and make them special
And the reason they chose this lifestyle is to be with the ointment and also to help it
And of course, live as a united community