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.
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. Rumspringa. Native name.
During the period known as Rumspringa, beginning at about age 16, Amish youth are no longer under the total control of their parents on weekends and, because they are not baptized, they are not yet under the authority of the church. During this time, many Amish youth adhere to traditional Amish behavior.
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.
Essentially, this is a time when Amish parents allow their young children (usually age 16) to leave the walls of the Amish community and see what outside life is like. After they've experienced it, they'll have to make a choice as to whether or not they want to continue living the Amish lifestyle.
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.
According to Amish America, the primary reason why many Amish have their teeth removed and replaced by dentures early on in adulthood is because of the long-term cost of visiting the dentist. These visits would occur because, as a whole, Amish may have more risks relating to their dental health.
Rumspringa: Amish Teens Venture into Modern Vices When Amish children turn 16, the rules change. They're encouraged to experiment and explore. The idea is that teens will come back to the church after tasting the modern world. A new book explores this ritual, called rumspringa.
As far as Amish teens, they do get a chance to explore the outside world - from the time they're 16 until baptism in the church at ages 18 to 22 - in a practice called "Rumspringa."
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.
The marriages are dependent on if they are between two members of the Amish church or a member and an outsider of the Amish church. The decision to marry a person outside of the Amish church is one that comes with a decision to be made by the person in the community, but before they are baptized by the church.
The Amish retire early, typically around 9:00 p.m. This gives them time to wind down from their day and prepare for sleep. Once they are in bed, they say a prayer and then drift off to sleep. The Amish believe it's important to get a good night's sleep, so they can be fresh for the next day.
Early to Rise
Amish, including the children, often wake up as early at 4:00 am to get started on their chores before dawn. In Amish families, rising early doesn't mean ending the workday early.
Even though leaving the Amish community is technically not allowed, it does happen. The Amish's freedom of choice allows members to leave at any time. People who leave after joining the church are excommunicated and shunned, while those who leave before joining the church aren't.
While outsiders might view it as punishment, the Amish consider it an act of love to help those who have strayed from their beliefs. Each individual church decides when to shun others and what kind of punishment they face.
Amish parents consider their children their greatest earthly treasure. Children are welcomed as a blessing from God and large families are the norm.
Dating among the Amish typically begins around age 16 with most Amish couples marrying between the ages of 20 and 22.
Mothers are very demonstrative with their babies when they nurse them and sing to them as they soothe them to sleep. But they don't pick up their children to hug and kiss them.
They Can't Contact the Outside World. Amish children are not allowed to contact the outside world. This includes talking to people who are not Amish, using phones, and watching television. This rule is in place to protect the young people from being influenced by the outside world.
The Amish do not have retirement homes. The elderly normally live in an apartment in the home of one of their children or in a Grossdawdy Haus, a small adjacent house. Esteemed for their wisdom, the elderly find meaning and dignity as they assist their adult children.
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.
Despite being surrounded by an ever-changing society, the Amish culture thrives on old-fashioned traditions. Amish women don't shave their underarms or legs because, according to their interpretation of 1 Corinthians 11:5-15, doing so would violate God's law.
However, in addition to the modesty aspect, women must keep their heads covered at all times so that they can pray at any time. Both modesty and prayer are central to the daily lives of Amish people and for women, wearing head coverings and bonnets is an important part of that.
They cover their hair with prayer caps when in public, which are white and made out of cotton. These caps keep the hair discreet and symbolize a woman's submission to God's will. This is according to the Amish belief that women shouldn't draw attention to themselves, which is why they don't wear makeup or jewelry.