There Are 6 Things You Might Not Know About Amish People

As a result of the recent disappearance and return of two Amish girls from New York, Americans are once again drawn to the “Plain People,” whose lack of technology and seemingly simple lives have long intrigued outsiders. Due to the sect’s prohibition on photos, police in New York had to use a sketch artist to draw a picture of one of the girls. For more information, visit amishschoolhouse.com.

These six things provide a fascinating glimpse into the lives of these Pennsylvania Dutch Americans.

History

America has been home to the Amish for many years. First, they fled religious persecution in Europe and settled in North America to find land to farm in the early 18th century. A schism arose in the Anabaptist church during the 17th century among followers of Jakob Amman, a Swiss minister who urged followers to “conform to the teachings of Christ and His apostles” and to be “forsaken” in daily life. It is from his name that the word “Amish” is derived.

Language

There is nothing Dutch about the Pennsylvania Dutch. They speak an ancient dialect of German, of which Dutch is a corruption. A result of the language’s isolation, the pronunciation differs significantly from that of German today and is influenced by the English of the surrounding populations. Several Amish groups in Indiana speak an Amish dialect that is close to Swiss-German.

Their Place of Residence

Their living centers around farming, and with their population growing rapidly due to large families, the Amish are constantly searching for new land away from urban centers in order not to be influenced by modern ways. They have now spread to 30 states and Canada as well after first settling in Ohio. Pennsylvania and Indiana have the highest Amish populations, followed by Ohio.

Growth

As the fastest-growing population group in America, the Amish are on the rise. Approximately 5,000 Anabaptists and Pietists lived in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1920; their population has risen to almost 300,000. Their growth can be attributed to three decades of rapid expansion. During that period, the Amish population more than tripled from 84,000 in 1984 to more than 248,000 in 2008. It is believed that large families are a blessing from God, hence the population explosion. Having so many children also means that they have more labor available for their farming enterprises.

Schooling

The Young Center estimates that about 10% of Amish children attend public schools. Amish children only attend school until eighth grade, mostly at private schools. The United States Supreme Court ruled in 1972 that students can end school at 14 years old. German dialect and English are both used.

Dress

Amish clothing is governed by Plainness. Black and white clothing is not allowed in some groups while muted colors are allowed in others.

In addition, Velcro and zippers are banned because of their potential to appear ostentatious. In its place, clothes are attached with pins or hooks and eyes. For religious services, people wear smarter clothes, like capes.