Rare Details About Amish Life That Most Outsiders Don't Know
If you're looking to step back in time, there's no better place to go than Amish country in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Horse-drawn carriages trot up and down the streets, and people use their own elbow grease to churn butter. It's a world like no other. The Amish built a community that focuses on strong, interpersonal bonds, and so much of the societal beauty gets lost in translation. There are many little-known practices of the Amish that outsiders can't see.
35. The Amish follow the Ordnung
All Amish believe in what's known as the Ordnung. It's basically an outline of how life should be led, detailing everything from religious practices to dress code. Interestingly, none of it is actually written down.
34. ...and practice what's called 'Rumspringa'
The Amish are aware that not everyone wants to stay within the community their whole lives. The practice of "Rumspringa" allows 16-year-old kids to explore the outside world and then decide if they want to stay.
33. They aren't afraid to shun people
Once a person fully commits to the Amish's set of rules known as the Ordnung, they must live their entire lives based on that code. Anyone who strays from the path is shunned by the community.
32. The Amish have a lot of kids
The Bible instructs readers to "be fruitful and multiply," and the Amish truly take that to heart. Rarely is birth control used, and the average household has about seven children.
