- The last of the Amish fun facts
This is the last of the fun facts about the Amish. But if you didn’t read them yet, here is Fun Facts about the Amish: Part One and Fun Facts about the Amish: Part Two.
Some Tech is Okay
The common thought is that Amish people don’t use technology, or at least that’s what we’re taught. But that isn’t always the case. In Fun Facts about the Amish: Part One, we saw that the Amish do travel for vacation sometimes and that trains and buses are acceptable, but air travel is not. Many families prefer to live without technology but that’s not true for all Amish families. While some believe in the benefits of technology, others still use candlelight and their traditional ways of cooking. There are Amish people who choose the conveniences of refrigerators, generators and other electronic devices. Some families use propane-powered forklifts to help them with their farm chores.
Pennsylvania Dutch
If you’ve never heard of this before, it’s the language of the Amish. While children are taught English from a young age, they also have their own language and many choose to speak it in the comfort of their own homes. Pennsylvania Dutch is also known as Low German and is a way of communicating specific to the Amish. Some think it’s antiquated but it’s alive and well on Amish tongues.
Long Live the Amish
No but really, the Amish are known for living long lives. A typically-aged Amish person dies around 71-years-old. Over the last 100 years, life expectancy for the Amish has remained about the same. This makes sense because of their lack of access to healthcare and scientific advantages.
“Going English”
This phrase in Amish means the time when the girls takes off her bonnet and the boys take off their traditional garb. This also comes into play with Rumspringa. The child is already experimenting with things like modern clothes and modern society, which the Amish trace back to their European roots.
Ohio
Ohio has the largest Amish Population with about 60,233. Pennsylvania comes in at a close second with 59,078 Amish people. There are about 44,831 Amish citizens in the state of Indiana, according to Ohio State.
Amish Markets
There are Amish markets, stores and farm stands and shoppers love them. Among their foods are delicious snacks and homemade spreads. They also sell crafts, furniture and outdoor items.
Kids and Chores
Amish families have around seven children and most are given chores starting at the age of four. Amish boys usually work with their fathers while girls stay in the house busy with mom. Chores in the house range from washing, hanging and sorting laundry to working in the garden and preparing food for upcoming meals. Outside chores include cutting hay, tending to the fields, and other work around the property. Along with those chores, there is also working at farm stands and markets selling food or goods. Finally, there is assisting with family businesses such as barn building, carpentry, roofing, etc.
Early to Bed
The long summer days are taken advantage of as much as possible before they need to get into bed for the night. Morning comes early, and for those that don’t use electricity, the morning starts the day. Most families are in bed by 8:30-9:00 p.m. Amish spend most of their time doing manual labor so getting the rest and sleep they need is important.
No buttons or zippers was such an interesting Amish fun fact. What was your favorite?
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