Amish Information

Need to know how the Amish learn, build and socialize? We have all that information for you right here. Use the links below to find out all you need to know about the Amish in Holmes County Ohio and how they have become a great part of our area.

Amish Country Driving: Rural roads are not city streets. They are often narrower or may vary in width. You may have less room to maneuver or a loose gravel and grass berms to contend with. Don't forget about sharp dips or unexpected turns.

Amish Etiquette: Whether you shop for local Amish-made goods and furniture, stay overnight at a quaint bed and breakfast tucked under an authentic Amish quilt, stop by local roadside stands set up by the Amish to sell excess farm produce, or explore the scenic countryside on a horse & buggy tour, a visit to Amish country can be a rewarding and fascinating experience

Amish Dress: Amish clothing styles encourage humility and separation from the world and are a practical expression of their faith. The Amish fashion styles are simple and meant to be functional. Clothing is made at home of plain fabrics and is primarily dark in color, including shades of purple, blue, wine, brown, grey and black.

Amish Technology: The Amish are averse to any technology which they feel weakens the family structure. The conveniences that the rest of us take for granted such as electricity, television, automobiles, telephones and tractors are considered to be a temptation that could cause vanity, create inequality, or lead the Amish away from their close-knit community and, as such, are not encouraged or accepted in most orders.

Amish Furniture Building: One of the driving values that motivates an Amish community is maintaining their style of life and allowing their children the same option as they grow old enough to start their own families. In the past most Amish families made their living off the land through farming and dairying.

Amish Education: The Amish believe strongly in education, but only provide formal education through the eighth grade. They are exempt from state compulsory attendance beyond the eighth grade based on religious principles

Amish Family Life: The family is the most important social unit in the Amish culture. Large families with seven to ten children are common. Chores are clearly divided by sexual role in the Amish home - the man usually works on the farm, while the wife does the washing, cleaning, cooking, and other household chores.

Amish Family Business: Important values for the Amish include the maintaining of their families and their faith. They seek to make decisions that will allow their faith practices to continue and their children to have the opportunity to choose their faith as young adults, as well.

Amish Community: The Amish value their Amish culture & community spirit. Part of that is rooted in the fact that the church districts are laid out geographically. This is different from an English community where your neighbors all around you may attend several different churches or none at all.

Amish Transportation: The most common sight in an Amish community is the horse and buggy. It marks distinctively the separation of the Amish community from the rest of the world who uses the automobile for every day transportation.

Amish Housing: Ohio Amish homes are easily picked out as one drives through a community. The houses are usually large but simple in design. Most feature white siding of some type. Porches and decks are common. There's a detached barn close to the house.

Amish Financial Matters: Owning an insurance policy for any reason is out of the question for an Amish family. They depend on their church and community to stand with them in difficult circumstances. As mentioned in another article if their house or barn burns the community responds by helping them to rebuild.

Amish Spiritual Issues: The Amish believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and would be a part of the protestant stream of theology. They emerged from the Anabaptists who began in the early 1500's. The Anabaptists, meaning re-baptizers, broke from the Catholic Church over infant baptism among other things.

Amish Weddings: Amish weddings are traditionally held on Tuesdays or Thursdays in later fall after the harvest. Amish wedding tradition has had to give way to practicality. Weddings are now held year round and on other days to accommodate the number of couples getting married.

Amish Food: Drop in to visit an Amish family and they'll quickly invite you to share some popcorn and ice cream. It might be pretzels or chips. One always has to have something salty with ice cream. It's really special if it's hand cranked.

Amish FAQs: First, the Amish use gas in many of these instances. Many appliances that they run on electricity can be converted to run on natural gas, propane or white gas. It's not uncommon to have their washing machines hooked up to a gasoline engine to run it

Amish Literature: Great novels from Wanda Brunstetter await you.

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Michael Mast Graphic Publications, Inc. Contact Graphic Publications, Inc. 7368 County Rd. 623, P.O. Box 358, Millersburg, Ohio 44654 United States Phone (330) 674-2300, Toll Free (888) 674-1010, Fax (330) 674-2361