In our age of high-speed Internet and international flights, the Amish community is a throwback to a more traditional era. However, because contact between Amish people and the average American is limited, there are many misconceptions about this group. Here are 19 things many get wrong about the Amish subculture.
They Don’t Celebrate Christmas
According to Reuters, 90% of Americans celebrate Christmas—and this includes the Amish. Despite many believing otherwise, the Amish do make an occasion of the holiday season, in addition to celebrating other key events. The nature of these celebrations differs from that of the average American, but they still take place.
All Marriages Are Arranged
The Amish have a reputation for being traditional, so it’s understandable that outsiders make certain assumptions about their marriage practices. However, contrary to popular belief, the Amish don’t actually arrange all their marriages. Love is blind, no matter where you come from.
(Un)Reality TV Shows Are Accurate
The Amish aren’t exactly known for being big TV watchers, but some series annoy them more than others. The community has criticized reality shows like Breaking Amish as being inaccurate or biased. As such, it’s worth taking these ‘reality’ TV shows with a pinch of salt.
Conventional Medicine is Not Allowed
It’s a common misconception that the Amish are opposed to conventional medicine and prefer to handle their health themselves. Actually, this isn’t true—they may not have health insurance, but that doesn’t mean they won’t pay to see a doctor if the situation calls for it.
They Don’t Pay Taxes
Death and taxes are some of life’s few inevitabilities—even for the Amish. While the community doesn’t benefit from social security or government-provided services like education, they do pay their fair share if they’re not self-employed. This means that tax season is just as stressful for them as it is for everyone else.
They’re Only Farmers
When most people think about Amish people, they picture a group of farmers. Although there are plenty of farmers in the community, not everyone is suited to growing crops or raising cattle. There are also Amish shopkeepers, carpenters, and construction workers.
They Don’t Use Electricity
As the University of Michigan points out, the U.S. consumes 16% of the world’s energy. You might not expect the Amish to contribute to this statistic, but they actually do. They use generators to supply energy for appliances like phones, helping to conduct business with the outside world.
They Speak High German
Despite their modest technological resources, the Amish are proficient in at least three different languages. English is used to conduct business outside of the community, High German is spoken in religious contexts, and Pennsylvanian Dutch is spoken at home. Since Pennsylvanian Dutch is a purely verbal language, the Amish use English when writing.
They Only Travel by Horse and Cart
Although the typical Amish horse and cart can’t get them very far, they’re willing to hire chauffeurs when traveling further afield. In fact, some Amish people even travel on planes, either on vacation or to carry out religious missions. They may be old-fashioned, but the Amish can be surprisingly cosmopolitan!
They Are Isolationist Communities
We often think of the Amish as being cut off from the outside world, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. The Amish tend to keep to themselves, but they don’t think twice about working for or trading with their more conventional neighbors. Plus, some settlements even encourage tourists to visit them!
The Amish Population is Decreasing
An understandable misconception is that the Amish population is decreasing—after all, not many people would choose to live without today’s technological essentials. Surprisingly, the opposite is happening. Few Amish abandon their traditions, and their large families mean that their numbers are actually on the rise.
This Culture Is Only Found in the U.S.
The Amish are widely considered to be a purely American quirk, but they’ve actually spread across the globe. There are no more Amish people in Europe (where they originated), but communities can also be found in Canada and South America—Brittanica reveals that there are over 200 settlements around the world.
Education Isn’t Important
The Amish are perceived as being agriculture-focused people, but this doesn’t mean that they’re opposed to formal education. Admittedly, Amish school finishes after the eighth grade, but this allows more time for teenagers to train up the practical skills needed to flourish in Amish society.
Amish and Mennonite People Are the Same
Many Americans confuse the Amish and Mennonite communities—this makes sense, as they share a common heritage. However, while the Amish prefer to put their home communities first, the Mennonites are more focused on traveling the world on religious missions. They also disagree on how much technology they should use.
Women Are Oppressed
Amish women are often stereotyped as being meek throwbacks to a pre-feminist age. In fact, they play key roles in Amish society, such as managing farms, working jobs of their own, or handling finances. Of course, Amish society is still patriarchal, but it’s not entirely regressive.
Family Is Everything
It’s commonly believed that the Amish place a large emphasis on family, and while this is true up to a point, it doesn’t tell the whole story. Amish people frequently visit their neighbor’s homes for religious services. It’s also traditional for the Amish to spend their Sundays visiting their friends and relatives.
There is No Partying
A hard day in the fields can’t leave much energy for partying, but, as the BBC explains, Amish boys are allowed to sample the wildlife during their ritual rumspringa. This gives them a taste of the outside world before they commit to the Amish lifestyle. Most, however, stick with what they know.
There is No Diversity Among The Amish
All Amish communities are part of the Anabaptist religion, but that doesn’t mean that they all see eye to eye. Different orders disagree on what technology is allowed and how much the Amish people should interact with outsiders. Old Order Amish are particularly hardline, while New Order Amish are comparatively relaxed.
Clothing Must Be Black Or White
The Amish produce all of their own clothes, but it’s a common misconception that they’re not allowed to wear or own colorful items. In fact, many Amish women enjoy making colorful quilts, while the more fashion-conscious members of the community like to dye their dresses.
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