Americans seem fascinated by the “Plain People,” whose simplicity and lack of technology have long attracted outsiders. The recent disappearance and return of two Amish girls from New York contribute to this attraction. A sketch artist from New York was commissioned to draw a photo of one of the girls because the sect forbade taking photos. See amishschoolhouse.com for more details.
There are six fascinating things about the lives of Pennsylvania Dutch Americans that can be learned from these six things.
History
There have been Amish communities in America for a long time. To farmland, they fled persecution in Europe in the early 18th century and settled in North America. According to a Swiss pastor, Jakob Amman, during the 17th century, a schism ensued in the Anabaptist church among followers who were urged to “conform to Christ’s teachings and the apostles’ instructions” and to be “forsaken in daily life.” He is the name of a group of people who is known as the Amish.
Language
Pennsylvania Dutch have nothing Dutch about them. Dutch is a dialect of German, which is an ancient dialect of German. The isolation of the language has influenced its pronunciation in a way that is somewhat different from that of German today, which is heavily influenced by the surrounding English. An Amish dialect very similar to Swiss-German is spoken by several Amish groups in Indiana.
The address of their residence
The Amish focus on farming, and with large families adding to their population, they are in constant need of new land to prevent being influenced by modern methods. Since first settling in Ohio, they have spread to 30 states as well as Canada. The highest Amish populations are found in Pennsylvania and Indiana, followed by Ohio.
Growth
America’s Amish population is rising quickly, making them the fastest-growing minority group. Almost 300,000 Anabaptists and Pietists live in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, a city that had only 5,000 Anabaptists and Pietists in 1920. Their rapid expansion over the past three decades can be attributed to their growth. Since 1984, the number of Amish population has more than tripled, rising from 84,000 to over 248,000 in 2008. Large families are believed to be a blessing from God, which explains the rapid population growth. They also have more labor available for their farming enterprise because they have so many children.
Schooling
Amish children attend public schools at a rate of about 10%, according to the Young Center. Many Amish children attend school only until the eighth grade, generally at private schools. Students can end school at 14 years old according to a 1972 ruling of the United States Supreme Court. English and German are both spoken.
Dress
Plainness is the guiding principle of Amish clothing. In some groups, black and white clothing is prohibited, while muted colors are permitted.
Furthermore, Velcro and zippers are prohibited due to their potential to look ostentatious. Pins or hooks and eyes are used to attach clothes instead. Worshippers wear capes and smarter clothes for religious services.
