Running head: AMISH CULTURE

Amish Culture

Alvernia University HCS 320

Ashley Burkhart, Samantha Giles, Shannon Ney

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Abstract

The Amish culture is known for their family values, tight community lifestyle, and

separation from the modern day world. From social events to education the Amish people

practice living a simple life with daily routines that vary from farm work to Church attendance.

This culture rejects living life in any way that would disrespect or dishonor their faith in God.

Due to their unique and unfamiliar cultural values, it is important health care workers have a

clear understanding of the cultural traditions of their patients. The Amish culture is a group of

interest due to the close proximity to Lancaster County and the interest in treating these patients

in the future.

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The history of the Amish begins in Switzerland in1693 when the Amish religion

branched off from the Mennonite community, part of the Anabaptist religion. Their

disagreements with the Mennonites dealt with the relaxed interpretation of the Bible and of

shunning practices. Jacob Amman was the first Amish leader. They immigrated to the Americas

to avoid prosecution for refusing as their civic duty to “bare arms” and did not accept the

authority of state regarding faith and worship practices. They were looking for opportunities to

own land and to have religious freedoms. Upon arriving in the Americas, the Amish original

settlements were in eastern Pennsylvania however, there are large settlements in Ohio and

Indiana now as well. There are no Amish currently living in Europe, even though this is where

the Amish originated.

Purnell noted that researchers have found as many as 12 hereditary diseases among the

Amish population and have even traced some back to one individual and his descendants. Many

genetic studies were done by John Hopkins throughout the Amish community, due to its small

size and tendency for generations to stay put in a relatively small area, it was an ideal study

group. Because of the great genealogy records kept by the Amish, those studying genetic

diseases among the Amish have a great resource to assist them with their findings. Ellis-

vanDreveld syndrome, a type of Dwarfism, is prevalent in the Amish community, especially in

Lancaster County. All those affected were descendants of Samuel King, an original settler in

Eastern Pennsylvania. Another single ancestry link is Jacob Yoder and his descendants who are

prone to have Pyruvate Kinase Anemia. As Purnell stated in the text, the Old Order Amish are

descendants of the original 30 immigrant couples and make for great genetic studies.

The clothing worn by the Amish is handmade and resembles the style worn by 17th

century European Peasants. They believe their plainness in dress represents their humility. The

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men and boys typically wear dark colored suits with coats with no labels, broad rimed hats, solid

colored shirts, black shoes and socks. Their shirts are permitted to have buttons and their coats

and vest have hook and eye closures. Once married the men no longer shave and grow breads

however, mustaches are not permitted.

Women and girls will wear long dresses of solid color worn with a cape or aprons,

typically black or same dress color for older women and white for younger girls, single women

to about age 30. Capes and aprons are fastened to clothing using straight pins or snaps. They

never cut their hair and it is usually worn in a bun under a shear prayer cap worn daily. Like the

men, women also wear black shoes and stockings.

Most Amish produce their own foods. Raising chickens, fowl, ducks, geese and cattle, as

well as, extensive gardening practices to supply the bulk of their food sources. Their meals do

tend to be high in fat and carbohydrates, but slightly balanced with fresh vegetables. However,

as the jobs available to the Amish broaden, so does the availability of processed and 'quick'

foods, lacking nutritional value. So their once nutritious diet is changing.

Amish meals usually include: meat, potatoes and/or noodles, cooked vegetables, bread,

something pickled, cake and/or pudding, and coffee. Families will butcher a steer and pay to

have it stored in a freezer locally. They butcher their chicken, etc. on the spot and cook fresh

whenever possible. Their preferences are for fresh homegrown foods without preservatives.

Social events and even unscheduled visits, present time for sharing a meal or snack.

Celebrations, such as weddings, birthdays, quilting bees, even church and barn raisings are all

social events that focus on sharing a meal together. Most attending bring along a casserole,

vegetable side dish, something pickled, pies, cakes and cookies to share.

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When sharing a meal, your “place at the table” is very symbolic. The head of the table is

reserved for the father of the family. To his right is the oldest son down to the youngest son. On

the right side sits his wife, followed by the youngest to oldest daughters. This arrangement

allows the older daughters to assist with the younger children as necessary. Everyone is

expected to attend meal time. There is a silent prayer before meals and following meals as well.

Marriage among the Amish is only permitted between two church members. According

to the Ordnung, courting begins around age 16. The couples are permitted to ride together on an

open top buggy following the Sunday evening sing. The service is several hours long and the

bride wears no makeup and no jewelry. There are no gifts brought to the wedding. Newlyweds

will spend the wedding night at the home of the bride's parents. From there, they spend weeks

traveling to visit many of those who attended the wedding and collect gifts of furniture, quilts,

etc.

When dealing with death and grief, the Amish take a hands on approach with care of the

sick. The younger generations will care for the sick and ailing in their home or the home of the

sick. Family plays a big part in taking care of the sick and embraces the role of the caregiver.

The community helps out with funeral arrangements taking the stress off the family and allowing

them to grieve. The community also helps out with household chores and food preparation to

allow the family to be free of distraction and can focus on the deceased. The Amish take a stoic

approach to death and dying and educate the younger generations on these customs. In the past

Amish families buried their own on their property in a private cemetery but now use a

community cemetery or are buried in a Mennonite cemetery.

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The Amish attend local one room school houses, run by the community, beginning at age

six from first grade through eighth grade. The Supreme Court ruled in 1972, that Amish children

need only attend school to the eighth grade. School is taught in English and the focus is on

reading, writing, math, Amish history, farming techniques and homemaking skills. As the

teacher addresses other children, the older children are taught to assist the younger in being

obedient and patient. After eighth grade, the boys usually will apprentice or begin assisting with

family farming tasks and girls help out with homemaking skills or begin cleaning local homes

for work.

Keys to understanding how the Amish faith is practiced, lies with two main concepts:

Revulsion of Hochmut (pride, arrogance, haughtiness), and high value on Demut and

Gelassenheit (humility, calmness, composure).

The Amish have many religious values they strive to live by. Purnell lists these to

include: Honesty, order, personal responsibility, community welfare, obedience to parents and

church, God, non-resistance, non-violence, humility, and the perception of the human body as a

temple of God.

The Amish church is made up of 30-50 local families and a leader is chosen by the group.

This leader is male and the leaders of the church are called deacons, preachers and bishops.

There is no national church to follow or answer to, so each community is unique. Church is held

in homes, barns or meeting halls, each week at a different family’s residence. The pews and

dishes are taken every week to the new location. Following the nearly three hours service,

completed in High German, is a community meal and social time for the entire congregation.

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Following the meal, younger children and parents head home and the young adults have

sing time into the evening. This is a chance for courting opportunities of getting to know one

another. This is usually around age 16 for most. Membership into the Amish church takes place

between ages 17 and 20. The period of time leading up to joining the church is called

Rumspringa. There is an expectation misbehaving and rough translation of Rumspringa is

'running around'. It is a period of time during adolescence that leads up to courtship and

ultimately choosing to join or not join the church.

During church services, the Ausbund, the Amish hymnal is used. Singing is very

important to the Amish. They do not permit instruments and there is no harmonizing. Simple is

best and everything is sung in unison. The Amish celebrate Holy Communion twice a year,

once in spring and once in autumn, and practice foot washing during religious services as well.

Shunning is the basic way the Amish community deals with disobedience among their

members. Some reasons for shunning can include moral issues, use of improper technology, and

dishonesty. The person is not spoken to and not allowed to sit together at the dinner table during

meals with the rest of the family. This does vary from community to community in the severity

of shunning.

The Amish don't celebrate most public holidays however; they do celebrate Thanksgiving

and New Year's Day. The religious holidays they celebrate include: Christmas, Second

Christmas (26th), Good Friday, Easter, Easter Monday, Pentecost and Ascension Day as noted

by Purnell. Fasting is part of preparing for communion and also a Good Friday observation. The

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Amish will exchange Christmas gifts but do not put up a tree nor do they celebrate Santa.

Children may perform a Christmas program at school as part of the holiday.

Three main languages are spoken among the Amish: Deitsh (or Pennsylvania Dutch) is

spoken at home and within the Amish community; English is the language of school and of

written instructions; and Hochdeitsch or High German is considered a sacred language.

Pennsylvania Dutch is spoken in the home and children learn to speak this language first.

They learn this and many other tasks by modeling their parents and siblings. English is reserved

for school and written word. High German is reserved for religious occasions.

The Amish may seem a little cool or show lack of concern in a public setting. It is not

their nature to be outspoken or to get excited about anything. Growing up in an atmosphere of

restraint, the Amish avoid confrontation, do not display emotions and will typically avoid eye

contact with non-Amish people. They will however greet one another with a handshake and a

smile.

The Amish are seldom found alone. They are pragmatic, and in larger families physical

intimacy cannot be avoided in the home, where childbearing and care of the ill and dying are

accepted as normal parts of life (Purnell, 2013). In public the Amish avoid eye contact with

others and require more space.

Family roles and structures play a large part in the Amish way of life. In the Amish

community they follow a patriarchal role. The man is the head of the family and in making

decisions but in regards to the family business and farming, the wife would play an equal part.

In public the wife will play a secondary role where in private she is equal to her husband. The

highest priority is child rearing with the average family size of seven to ten children. The female

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role is to help with the family and provide child care, food, clothing, and attain to household

needs. This is true for women and girls. The male role is to provide guidance, discipline, to

serve as a role model, and attain to business and farming needs.

The Amish work six days a week and complete hard labor daily. In their down time they

enjoy recreational activities. Recreation in Amish life often focuses on local activities involving

nature. Sledding, skating, ice hockey, swimming, camping, fishing, and hunting provide breaks

from the routines of work. Informal games of softball, corner ball, and volleyball are also

favorites in the Amish community. Activities are important in social events that blend work and

leisure. Recreation and travel is on the rise among more progressive families. It is almost

always community oriented, revolving around family and friends. (Elizabethtown College 2013)

The Amish face many safety issues with work around the house and farming. Many

different accidents can happen around the farm with equipment that is used from losing limbs, to

death. Manure pits are also a hazard with deaths occurring from someone falling in the pit and

dying as a result. A big safety concern that is growing rapidly is the accidents and deaths

resulting from horse and buggy crashes. With an increase of automobiles and distracted drivers

on the road there are more crashes occurring.

There are many environmental concerns regarding Amish and their farming techniques.

Runoff of manure and fertilizer into waterways is a major concern of environmentalists. Local

environmentalists and legislators are working together with the Amish community to establish

better runoff controls for manure and fertilizer and to establish a technique that prevent runoff

from reaching rivers and streams that branch off to larger waterways. Fracking is a newer

environmental concern for the Amish. The Amish are concerned for their farming land but have

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used the money they are paid to install drainage for their runoff or to help pay for upkeep to their

farms and households.

Living arrangements are viewed as old fashioned but most Amish communities abide by

these rules. Unmarried children live in their parent’s home until marriage which is usually

between the ages of 20-30’s. Young adults may move to a different community to work and live

as a boarder with another Amish family. Same gender individuals do not live together unless

work may make it more convenient. (Purnell 2013)

Social change is a social issue that the Amish face. The Amish struggle with modernity

and the ever changing ways of the world that can affect their lives, their farming, their businesses

and even their transportation. The Amish struggle to stay separate from the outside world but

younger generations have more temptations than previous generations.

The Amish are fairly self-reliant and rely on themselves economically. By shunning

modern labor-saving devices and technologies like: electricity, hay bailers, power equipment,

and modern milking facilities, they choose to live with less of everything. Many fall within the

modern definition of poverty. Nearly all use child labor. (Elizabethtown College, 2013)

Contrary to some misperceptions, the Amish do pay taxes: state and federal income taxes,

sales and real estate taxes, and public school taxes. They are exempt from paying Social

Security taxes, however, because they consider Social Security a form of insurance and refuse its

benefits. (Elizabethtown College, 2013) The Amish believe that the Bible instructs them to care

for others, including the disabled, and elderly. The Amish emphasize the separation of church

and state and do not receive benefits from any governmental program. The Amish are permitted

to vote, with voter turnout typically low.

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Most Amish live and work on their own farms, with farming being the number one

occupation in past decades. Amish farms were typically small but are now growing larger and

becoming more specialized. Although farming is held to a high regard for most Amish, most are

abandoning the tradition. In some communities, fewer than 10 percent of the households receive

their primary income from farming (Elizabethtown College, 2013). The shift to non-farm work

is the biggest change in Amish society in the last century. The Amish also work in business and

commerce relying on tourists to buy their goods. Many Amish men are involved in construction

both residential and commercial.

The Amish value family, hard work, and have a strong belief in God. The Amish live

their life based on the teachings of the Bible and use these teachings daily. All aspects of Amish

life are dictated by a list of written or oral rules, known as Ordnung, which outlines the basics of

the Amish faith and helps define what it means to be Amish.

The Amish health care beliefs and practices vary by each community and health care

decisions are often discussed between the community and family before a decision is made.

Although there are no formal church regulations on health care, the Amish prefer to avoid

modern medicine and practices. This culture is reluctant to seek modern medical attention due to

their desire to avoid medical costs, transportation hassle, and the lack of education on health

wellness. Along with the struggles of cost, the Amish reject health care and prefer to pay for all

medical services out of pocket.(Worldpress, 2010) Health insurance is considered a worldly

product and participating shows a lack of faith in God. Due to this cultures strong belief in

community, church members are responsible to help the family pay for all medical expenses.

(PBS, 1996)

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Progressive Amish are more likely to seek modern medical services while conservative

Amish rely on traditional methods and folk practice to treat sick patients. Powwowing or

braucha, is a common folk practice handed down through generations as a healing technique still

practiced by some Amish. The Amish believe the cause of illness is sin and use powwowing to

treat illness as a means of faith healing. Powwowing is a spiritual method that involves the act of

touch by a person who has been given the power to heal. This healing method is looked upon as

a continuum of life and death. (Worldpress, 2010)

The Amish believe that modern medicine can treat sickness but that God is the almighty

healer who will cure sickness. The community will use home remedies like braucha and drink

herbal tea for aches and illness. The Amish do not reject surgery but they will not opt for life-

saving treatment and do not intervene when the elderly fare terminal illness. They believe the

decision of life and death is held only by God. (Elizabethtown college, 2013)

Healthcare professionals must demonstrate cultural sensitivity and understand some

important facts about the Amish culture before treating a patient. Because the Amish have

limited education (up to the eighth grade) it is important to minimize the use of medical

terminology and use simple terms to communicate the health needs of an Amish patient.

(Worldpress, 2010)

Professionals are advised to prepare for conflict in appointment making and rescheduling

due to the communities limited resources with electricity and transportation. (Worldpress, 2010)

Some Physicians who are familiar with the Amish culture and are accepted by the community

will make house calls to treat or check on patients. (Amish America, 2010)

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Because the use of herbal remedies is still practiced by the Amish culture, practitioners

must be willing to consider the use of these remedies and folk medicine practice. (Elizabethtown

college, 2013) Even after explanation from a Physician on the need to treat the patient with

modern medicine the Amish will trust the advice of an elder community member who may

altogether refuse treatment. (Worldpress, 2010)

It is important all health care providers are aware of the strong family values of the

Amish. Practitioners must speak to a husband, wife, family members and church representative

when a health care decision needs to be made. Due to the large group and family members who

will be present for a patient’s treatment, hospitals must prepare accordingly for more visitors

then typically aloud. (Worldpress, 2010)

The Amish are a culture of plain people who focus on their faith in God and importance

of community. Daily activities include farm work, family time and social gatherings. Due to their

unique beliefs in shunning worldly products the Amish are able to reject health care insurance

and education past the eighth grade. As with any culture, it is important to research the Amish

culture before treating an Amish patient to ensure cultural sensitivity.

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References

Amish way of life. (2014). Wikipedia.com. Retrieved from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amish_way_of_life

Amish topics. (2012). Amishamerica.com. Retrieved from

http://amishamerica.com/

Exploring-amish-country. (2013). Exploring-amish-country.com. Retrieved from

http://www.exploring-amish-country.com/

Purnell, L. D. (2013). Transcultural health care: a culturally competent approach (4th ed.).

Philadelphia, PA: F. A. Davis Company.

The Amish. (2004-2014). Religionfacts.com. Retrieved from

http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/denominations/amish.htm

PBS. (1996-2013). American experience: The amish. Retrieved from

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/general-article/amish-faq/

Worldpress. (2010). American Amish. Retrieved from

http://nursing322sp10.wordpress.com/the-american-amish/

Cleveland clinic. (1995-2014). Treating the amish and addressing their health care

concerns. Retrieved from http://www.health-share.org/health-info/docs/1700/1783.asp?

index=3971&src

Elizabethtown college. (2013). Amish studies. Retrieved from

http://www2.etown.edu/amishstudies/Health.asp

Amish America. (2010). Amish. Retrieved from http://amishamerica.com/do-amish-visit-

doctors/

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