Why does the color of the bonnets matter? In most cases, the only time you see a Mennonite or Amish woman wearing a white bonnet is when she is married. Thus, she wears the white bonnet to signify that she is in a lifelong relationship.
Amish men take this very seriously, and that is why they do not shave their beards. In time, this came to be seen as a sign of marital status. Married Amish men started sporting fuller beards that any biblical patriarch would be proud of.
1. Marriage is a spiritual vow to maintain a permanent relationship until the death of one of the spouses; therefore divorce is wrong, but forgivable. 2. To be single is of no less value than to be married.
One fail-safe indicator in determining whether a family is Amish or Mennonite is to look at their method of transportation. Unlike the Amish, Mennonites are not prohibited from using motorized vehicles. In addition, Mennonites are also allowed to use electricity and telephones in their homes.
As you probably already know, Amish don't wear jewelry. This includes wedding rings and engagement rings. No jewelry of any kind. In Lancaster County Amish men traditionally would have a pocket watch rather than a wristwatch for the same reason.
Mennonite Men
They often grow their beards out as the Amish do, but they are not prohibited from shaving. Mennonite men dress modestly, in simple trousers and shirts with suspenders just like Amish men do. But even the very conservative ones don't dress nearly as plainly as the Old Order Amish.
Amish women swim in a different location from men, but because they tend to wear long dresses, the activity would be better characterized as wading. Some Mennonite women might wear shorts and T-shirts or even one-piece swimsuits because their churches are the most modern of the sects, at least in some ways.
The use of a mirror is allowed because unlike a picture, it is not a graven image. Women use mirrors to do their hair and men use mirrors to shave. If you take our guided farmhouse tour, you'll spot a few mirrors in the house.
Craig Frere: “Yes, some Mennonites do drink wine. In fact I know Mennonite pastors who make their own wine.”
Mennonite clothing is known for its simplicity and modesty. The clothing worn by Mennonites often reflects their religious beliefs, which emphasize humility and service to others. Typical garments include plain-colored dresses, plain suits or shirts, long bonnets, and men's straw hats.
Most modern Mennonites read these passages in a cultural context. While they still greet one another warmly and offer blessings to one another in various ways, they usually don't actually kiss.
Birth control varies among Mennonite groups. It is not so much a matter of belief but more a matter of what size family one needs. The more modern Mennonites frequently live in urban settings so large families are not needed and birth control is used.
Detailed Description: The Amish and Mennonite populations represent outstanding communities for the study of genetic disease for a number of reasons. There is a high degree of inbreeding, resulting in a high frequency of recessive disorders, many of which are seen rarely or are unknown outside of this population.
The Mennonite Church still recognizes these articles. In time, this group accepted additional confessions: the Dordrecht Confession (Holland, 1632), the Christian Fundamentals (1921), and the Mennonite Confession of Faith (1963).
Amish men use their beards as a symbol of marriage. If a man has a clean-shaven face, it means he is single and ready to mingle, which is important for the ladies to know. However, if he's got a beard, he's taken.
The Amish bedroom rules contain what is known as bundling. This is the practice of sleeping in the same bed with someone of the opposite sex while fully clothed.
Mennonites, unlike Mormons, don't wear undergarments designed to confer a special holy feeling. There's no online Mennonite outlet from which we order our modest underduds. But as soon as I turned 10, I was introduced to a hideous, wide-strapped, no-stretch bra that crushed my fantasies of young ladyhood.
Formal Mennonite beliefs were codified in the Dordrecht Confession of Faith in 1632, which affirmed "the baptism of believers only, the washing of the feet as a symbol of servanthood, church discipline, the shunning of the excommunicated, the non-swearing of oaths, marriage within the same church", strict pacifistic ...
Basic beliefs of Mennonites are based on Jesus Christ's teachings in the Sermon on the Mount as well as the Anabaptist Confession of Schleitheim. These basic beliefs include strict pacifism, shunning oaths, adult baptisms, foot washing, church discipline (excommunication), and separation from world, among others.
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.
I know of Mennonites involved in about every recreational activity you can mention—from biking to sailing to motorcycling to fishing to hunting to wine tasting and on and on. Mennonites also are increasingly involved in the arts—writing, music, painting, sculpture, acting, filmmaking, even dancing.
All Old Order Mennonites reject certain technologies (e.g., radio, television, Internet), but the extent of this rejection depends on the individual group. Old Order groups generally place great emphasis on a disciplined community instead of the individual's personal faith beliefs.
Reflecting the practice of the primitive Church, the kapp is worn by certain Anabaptist Christian (especially among Mennonites, Amish, Schwarzenau Brethren and River Brethren) and Conservative Quaker women throughout the day based on Saint Paul's dictum that Christians are to "pray without ceasing", Saint Paul's ...
Concerning deodorant, yes, the Amish DO wear deodorant. If they don't, it's their personal choice.
According to the Schwartzentruber Amish Ordinance Letter, Amish women are not permitted to shave their legs or underarms. Amish ordinances also forbid women from cutting their hair.