You don't have to have the same beliefs to befriend an Amish person. You just have to respect theirs as they respect yours. That's the key to all successful friendships with Amish or non-Amish people.
Amish people aren't forbidden from interacting with outsiders, whom they refer to as 'the English', but there are only a few situations where this is allowed. An example of such a situation is their work. Just like any other community, the Amish people need to earn a living and support their families.
Out of respect for their privacy, it is best to avoid approaching the Amish unless they appear open to company. They are just like you and don't really appreciate strangers knocking at their door. When you do have a need to approach a group of Amish, it is polite to speak to a male, if possible.
Q: May outsiders join the Amish? A: Yes. Although the Amish do not actively evangelize, several dozen outside people have joined the Amish. Potential members must be willing to learn the dialect and accept the rules of the church in order to be baptized and become members of the church.
So, the Amish don't really have a special name for people who aren't Amish. Instead, they usually call them "English," which basically means anyone who's not Amish. The term shouldn't be taken as an insult. It's just a way for the Amish to set themselves apart from the rest of the world.
Feminine Hygiene
Female Amish wash their hair and wear it in a bun. As for makeup, Amish women aren't allowed to wear cosmetics or adornments considered worldly. This includes lipstick, mascara, eye shadow, and jewelry.
The languages most commonly spoken by the Amish are Pennsylvania Dutch and English. Amish community members use Pennsylvania Dutch when conversing with each other in their community. English is only really used for communicating with outsiders.
Remember, the Amish community cherishes the practice of gift-giving as a means of strengthening relationships, expressing gratitude, and celebrating life's special moments. While they may refer to outsiders as "English," they are more than willing to accept gifts from those outside their community.
It seems that they are certainly on to something, because numerous data points indicate that the Amish live happier and healthier lives than the average American.
This is based on the biblical principle of wives being submissive to their husbands (Ephesians 5:22-24). This doesn't mean that Amish women are treated as second-class citizens. They're still considered equal in worth and value. However, they're expected to defer to their husband's decisions and opinions.
Women are to keep their hair long and worn in a single braid or bun that is pinned behind their head. Hair must be kept out of sight, as it's seen as too sensual and can be distracting for men in the community. The reason Amish women don't cut their hair is more than just aesthetic preference.
All types of birth control, and also all forms of natural family planning such as calendar-based methods, are forbidden in Old-Order Amish communities. However, especially in recent years, more Amish women have begun using contraception.
The Amish Community and Dating
Dating among the Amish typically begins around age 16 with most Amish couples marrying between the ages of 20 and 22. To find a prospective date, the young adults socialize at functions such as frolics, church, or home visits.
Black and White Bonnets
An unmarried woman may be in the process of an Amish courtship, but until she gets hitched, she wears a black bonnet. Once married, a woman will swap out her old black bonnet for a fresh white one.
Often the first six or eight baby names are the easiest to come up with since many start out naming their babies after the child's grandparents on both sides of the family. Next, come the aunts and uncles, with a few favorites scattered in as well. Most amish children are only given a first name and a middle initial.
Both girl and boy dolls are common; Amish children do not have a lot of toys, so both boys and girls play with the dolls.
Many Amish men are accomplished carpenters and use traditional woodworking tools to create gifts for the home. They make wooden furniture and household items for use in the community. These items also serve as housewarming gifts. Wooden toys and smaller items for the home are popular Christmas gifts for their families.
The Amish (/ˈɑːmɪʃ/; Pennsylvania German: Amisch; German: Amische), formally the Old Order Amish, are a group of traditionalist Anabaptist Christian church fellowships with Swiss German and Alsatian origins. They are closely related to Mennonite churches, a separate Anabaptist denomination.
Now, the English and Amish can't be the typical friends. Don't expect to hang out for no reason other than spend time with each other. They don't do that with the English, but you can have a useful relationship. One of my best Amish friends would barter with me often.
Conclusion. The Amish, or Pennsylvania Dutch as many outsiders know them, are Germanic people. Most of the earliest Amish arrivals came from the Swiss/Alsace region and brought their traditions and mother tongue with them. Generations of living apart from other communities have kept their heritage intact.