Rumspringa. Popular culture portrays this rite of passage as Amish youth leaving their homes and doing wild and crazy things. Despite what you may see on television, these youth are the exception. In reality, the term refers to a limbo period in every Amish life when they are entering adulthood.
During Rumspringa, Amish youth enter a time of greater social activity. Traditional youth activities include volleyball, swimming, ice skating, picnics, hiking, and large outdoor “supper” parties.
The length of rumspringa is indeterminate, a matter of personal choice. It continues until the adolescent decides to join the church and be baptized as an adult member, accepting the responsibilities that entails. Most young adults make their decisions before age 23, the majority deciding within two years.
In many communities, Rumspringa is a period when some Amish youth, boys more than girls, experience greater freedom. They are no longer under the control of their parents on weekends and, because they are not baptized, they are not yet under the authority of the church.
For Amish youth, the Rumspringa normally begins at age 16 and ends when a youth chooses either to be baptized in the Amish church or to leave the community. For Wenger Mennonites, Rumspringa occurs mostly between ages of 17 and 21.
After Rumspringa
If they decide to leave the community after being baptized, they're shunned from the community and asked to never return. This stance is considered to be an act of love. Ultimately, most youngsters decide to stay in their community and get Baptized. Some estimates say this number is about 90% of Amish.
I think the level of integration with the modern world varies community to community (some Amish communities are more insular than others) but the most conservative of them will probably use the same methods women used for hundreds of years — wrapping themselves with strips of material, or wrapping their shift/ ...
Summary: The Amish typically have their teeth pulled out by unlicensed dentists instead of incurring the high cost of dentistry. They perceive dentures as more cost effective and easier to maintain oral health.
Since abortion is not allowed, a girl who fails to marry while pregnant may be banished from the Amish community as they see her as a disgrace. To avoid such circumstances befalling them, Amish women are encouraged to be chaste and wait until marriage.
The Amish practice a form of bedroom ritual called "bundling." In bundling, a young man and woman spend time together in the same room, usually fully clothed and often with a board or blanket between them. This allows them to get to know each other without the distraction of physical contact.
There's no prohibition on alcohol in most communities, but certain strict Old Order communities aren't in favor of it. You'll never see Amish men going outside of the community to bars and other such establishments. If they do drink, they do so at home or in the community, at a social gathering.
Since the Amish feel strongly about their community and honoring God by respecting others, much of their spare time is spent connecting with others. The Amish will often visit with relatives, neighbors, church friends, and even non-Amish friends.
Early to Bed
Since morning comes early, most Amish families are in bed by 8:30 – 9:00 pm. Rest and getting adequate sleep is imperative for the Amish since much of their day is spent doing manual labor.
In fact, most young Amish live in their parents' homes during rumspringa. Amish youths will join youth groups, which are composed of other church young people who are also on rumspringa.
Rumspringa is a rite of passage during adolescence, translated in English as “jumping or hopping around”, used in some Amish communities, but the event can also be very destructive and dangerous. Over the weekend, nearly forty kids were arrested between two parties.
What happens when an Amish person leaves the community? Any member of the Amish church is free to leave at any time. Members who choose to leave might be allowed to rejoin the church. However, those who leave permanently are shunned.
In addition, members of the Amish community are allowed to remarry after their spouse passes. Widows sometimes garner financial assistance from their families or the church and may even find work outside of the home, according to Amish America.
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.
Amish Marriage. Marriage between Amish and outsiders is rare. That's because it's not allowed by Amish Law. However, should an outsider decide to convert to the Amish faith and get baptized, they'll be accepted as a member of the Amish community.
The Amish are devout Christians, and as such, many of their traditions originate from the Bible. The Amish perceive hair as a sacred symbol of devotion to God. Because of this, cutting it is considered a shameful dismissal of this precious token.
Amish Carpenters Don't Use Nails or Screws!
Part of the allure of Amish craftsmanship is the painstaking attention to detail, and the fastener-free joinery is a prime example. Amish woodworkers tend to forgo nails and opt for techniques like dovetails, rabbets, and mortise-and-tenon joinery instead.
“In the Amish faith a man's beard and a women's hair are sacred religious symbols,” Bridget M. Brennan, an assistant U.S. attorney, said in her opening statement. “The beard and the hair are symbols of Amish righteousness, religious symbols that God is present in their lives.”
After giving birth, Amish mothers breastfeed their babies for as long as possible. It's believed that this helps strengthen the bond between mother and child, which is important in this close-knit culture. It also gives them the nutrients they need to grow strong and healthy.
In the Amish community, things like pregnancy are very sacred and secret. People's privacy is important, and intimate details are often not shared with other members of the community until it is more than obvious.
Yes, the Amish bathe, but they often do it without electricity, and sometimes without indoor plumbing. They usually heat the water on a stove in order to have a warm bath. This labor-intensive process is one reason that the Amish don't normally bathe every day.