An Amish Experience

One of the benefits offered on a long-term assignment is language and culture classes in the host country.  Leon took it as a chance to brush up his English (and it's getting better) and also learn about operating in the American business context.  He is also working on his enunciation, which I did for a while too.

Anyway, the school where we did all these organized an Amish dinner experience today.  We had an hour's briefing on the Amish culture followed by dinner at an Amish family  farm.

History

The Amish church began in Switzerland within a group of Swiss and Alsatian Anabaptists in 1693.  Their leader was Jakob Ammann, hence Amish.  In the 1730's, about 200 of the original group of founders/followers emigrated to Pennsylvania, USA, for reasons from religious wars and persecution to poverty.

As Amish only marry Amish people, but not cousins, and are descended from the original 200 or so immigrants, they tend to have genetic health issues.

The Amish speak multiple languages/dialects, primarily Pennsylvania Dutch, Swiss German, German, and English which they learn when they begin school.  

Religion/Way of Life

Anabaptists are Christians of the Radical Reformation of Europe in the 16th century and some consider them Protestants, others consider them a distinct branch.  They reject baptism of infants, and believe, in fact require, that people be able to make their own confession of faith, i.e. choose to join the church instead of having that decision made for them by their parents.  This requirement for 're-baptism' caused them to be heavily persecuted during that time.

The Amish do not have a written set of rules but have unwritten guidelines, known as the Ordnung (German for "Order"), based on the inspired words of God as in the Bible, and which is observed by every member of each Amish community and governs most aspects of their daily life.  I say 'each Amish community' because (i) small groups of Amish live in a community; (ii) they don't have a Church building and meets at each other's home weekly on a rotational basis; and which means (iii) each group is maybe about 30 to 40 plus strong.  

Each group may differ over matters such as color of horse buggies, width of their hat brim, whether bicycles are allowed and other little facets of life.  The leader of their Church, the Bishop, makes the decision, which becomes law.  Every year, each congregation reviews their own Ordnung and refreshes their commitment.

Amish are pacifists, i.e. they abhor and reject war and violence, and as such, do not perform any type of military service.  This is another factor for their persecution in 16th/17th warring century Europe when all hands on deck was needed for long wars.

The Amish also believe that Christians must act modestly and humbly, valuing rural life, community service, and family ties.  Children and old folks are valued.  They are not allowed to own modern appliances, electricity or powered vehicles, and travel by horse drawn buggies or bicycles.  (There are some concessions - continue reading below.)

Hmmm we look a bit warped here. But we're standing in front of a horse buggy.
There are flip switches inside to turn on left/right signals and the brake lights.

And you might have heard that the Amish refuses to be photographed or filmed.  They consider this an act of pride and vanity and therefore, counter to the Ordnung.  To some, this is also an act of creating idols, which the Bible does not allow.  

There are three broad groups of Amish: (i) Old Order, which is the strictest in lifestyle; (ii) New Order, which is less strict depending on the bishop; and (iii) the Mennonite, which is the least strict of the Anabaptist groups.

Those who disobey the rules and Ordnung are 'shunned', i.e. excommunicated.

Dress and Appearances

Women wear mid-calf length dresses/skirts and the sleeves are either elbow length or long.  They are in solid colors of blue, green, brown or gray.  On more formal occasions, they wear black.  An apron is usually worn over the dress and a cape covers the bodice of the dress.  They also wear a white cap, and usually black shoes and stockings when in public.

These dresses have no decoration, trim, lace or buttons.  

The wedding gown though, is blue in color.

Men wear dark pants held up by suspenders - no belt or fly zippers or buttons - and usually with a white or blue shirt.  On formal occasions, they add a dark coat.  In the summer, they may wear a broad brim straw hat, and a broad brim dark hat in winters.

Men always shave their beards, until they marry.  After marriage, they do not cut their beards because these become mark of honor.  Mustaches are strictly forbidden because the military in Europe in the past would wear them, and the Amish people, as you now know, are pacifists and don't want to be like these soldiers.

Also, the Amish do not wear jewelry so the Amish man's beard is like his wedding band...

Children are dressed like adults.  This starts the visible indoctrination of children into the Amish culture and Church from young.

Education, Civic Responsibilities and Other Points of Interest

Amish children are mostly educated in Amish schools, which teaches reading, writing, math, and Bible study up to the 8th grade only.  

The most popular job of an Amish is as a farmer.  Cottage industries, such as quilting and furniture making, are other sources of income.  Apparently, the furniture they make are of good wood and great quality.  Amish quilting is equally priced and valued at hundreds of dollars a piece.  

The Amish pays only property and sales tax, and do not pay social security tax or insurance of any kind.  

With the humble lifestyle that they have, the Amish are, contrary to belief, rather wealthy.  In fact, the family style dinner that we attended this evening seems to suggest that this is a pretty good business started by an entrepreneurial family.

Today, there are over 270,000 Amish people in the US and the population is growing rapidly with an average of 7 children per family.  Retention rate of Amish youths in the Church is about 80% - primarily due to socialization from young and fear of being 'shunned'.  The Amish people are settled in about 24 states, Canada and Central America. About 80% of them are located in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana, with the largest concentration of the community in northeast Ohio.

Modern Concessions

Living in today's context, the Amish has made some concessions with regards to modern conveniences.  

Some now own cell phones, reading glasses, wear pastel color clothes, use solar panels for power or propane gas.  They also pay table games and go on bus tours.  And while they cannot own electricity or cars, they can use yours, or ride in your car.

The Dinner

We had dinner in the dining facility of Dan and Lydia Yoder (a common Amish last name).  Dinner started with some of the best jams I've had with home made bread.  Then we had tossed salad, meat loaf, fried chicken with buttered noodles, mash potatoes and mixed greens.  The style of cooking is very Dutch/German and recipes in the booklet given by the organizer had instructions for making liver dumplings, red beet eggs, corn oysters (not oysters as we know it, just dough balls), and Dutch sticky buns.  Didn't take any photos 'cos we were too busy eating.  The meal wasn't Fantastic, but it was very homely, and therefore, very enjoyable.

Propane lights lit the dining hall and they were very bright.