In fact, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, is home to approximately 30,000 Amish and their presence is a significant draw for tourism. Chester, York, Belleville, and Mifflin counties are also home to Amish communities. The Amish have also have increasingly settled in Ohio, most notably in Holmes County.
The Amish have settled in as many as 32 US-states though about 2/3 are located in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana. The largest Amish settlement is Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and adjacent counties followed by Holmes and adjoining counties in northeast Ohio, about 78 miles south of Cleveland.
The Pennsylvania Amish community in Lancaster County is the oldest and largest Amish community in the United States, numbering about 30,000. The population has more than doubled in size in the past 20 years.
A family leaves behind the trappings of the 21st century to lead a simple, self-sufficient and pious life in rural Tasmania.
In Pennsylvania, you'll see America's oldest — and perhaps best known — Amish settlement in Lancaster County. There are additional settlements in the state besides Lancaster if authentic Amish settlements are your destinations of choice.
Ever wanted to not just slow down, but jump off the grid? A family leaves behind the trappings of the 21st century to lead a simple, pious life in rural Tasmania.
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.
The Old Order Mennonites and Amish have the same European roots and the language spoken in their homes is the same German dialect. Old Colony Mennonites use Low German, a different German dialect.
Do the Amish celebrate Christmas? Yes, they do, although their customs are much simpler than our “English” customs. They are oriented toward the family and the religious meaning of the holiday.
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 (French) origins.
Pennsylvania Dutch is the language used by the Amish population here in Lancaster County. It is considered to be their first and native language. The Amish learn to read, write and speak in English, allowing them to communicate with the 'outside world'.
The three affiliations: "Lancaster", "Holmes Old Order" and "Elkhart-LaGrange" are not only the three largest affiliations, they also represent the Old Order mainstream among the Amish.
The Amish bedroom is simple. The furniture is typically made of wood, and the beds are usually bunk beds. The mattresses are filled with straw or feathers, and the bedding is typically made of wool. They wake up early, around 4:30 a.m, say a prayer, and then start their day.
While the Amish do not take pictures of themselves, they do use mirrors. 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.
When visiting their community, please keep the following basic courtesy rules in mind: Don't stare, gawk, or otherwise be disrespectful of the Amish. When driving, keep an eye out for slow-moving Amish buggies (especially at night), and give them plenty of room when following or passing.
It is common for Amish communities to allow the use of telephones, but they do not allow them in the home. Instead, several Amish families will share a telephone housed in a wooden shanty in a nearby location.
Amish people enjoy pizza, spaghetti, lasagna, taco salad, etc. And they eat plenty of casserole dishes. But commonly, you will find a hearty full-course meal of meat, potatoes, a vegetable, salad, bread, and dessert, for an Amish dinner.
The most common Amish surnames are Yoder and Miller. Yoder is also common in Mennonite communities. It is of Swiss origin, as many other Amish last names are. Miller, however, seems to have been adopted after the Amish arrived in North America.
Contrary to certain myths or misconceptions, the Amish community is open to receiving gifts from those outside their community, whom they refer to as "English." In fact, the Amish greatly appreciate thoughtful gestures and acts of kindness from their English neighbors and friends.
Not only do the Amish not actively practice polygamy, they certainly don't believe in it. They view polygamy as adultery. Although the various Amish settlements may interpret certain rules slightly differently, there is no deviation from this law. The Amish believe in traditional marriage between one man and one woman.
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.
You can begin wherever you are.” Yes, it is possible for outsiders, through conversion and convincement, to join the Amish community, but we must quickly add that it seldom happens. First, the Amish do not evangelize and seek to add outsiders to their church.
As part of their Ordnung, Old Order Amish forbid owning automobiles; tapping electricity from public utility lines; owning televisions, radios, or personal computers; attending high school or college; joining the military; and initiating divorce. All Amish groups expect men and women to wear prescribed clothing.
The Amish also believe marriage should be between a man and a woman. Same-sex relationships are not allowed within the Amish community. Unmarried Amish men and women aren't supposed to have any physical contact with each other. This includes kissing, hugging, and even holding hands.
The Amish have various hygiene practices, just like regular Americans. They take showers, although the frequency may vary among different Amish orders. Conservative Amish don't use deodorant, talc, or lotion. They simply wash, dry, and put on clean clothing.