Amish Culture

[ACG]

This summer, because the CSA I am part of, I have been in the company of Amish pretty often. Usually at picnics at their homes/farms. I always have a great time meeting the farmers and the other CSA members.

While I am familiar with some aspects of Amish culture, there is some I am not and have not been able to find the answers to online (it also happens that the CSA management is very busy and understaffed so I am trying to avoid having to ask them to take time out of their day to field my questions).

I have tried to engage some of the Amish women in conversation, young & old, yet I have not had a conversation that last long than a few words. On the other hand, the men seem very open to conversation with all English, men & women. I had originally thought that it would be easier to engage the Amish women than the men, but the women seem to only socialize with each other while the men engaged all English. Would it be rude to initiate a conversation with an Amish woman?

When meeting both men & women I have held back offering my hand to shake to see if they offered theirs. They have not. I know never to offer my hand to Orthodox Jewish men and why, but is there any thing in Amish culture or religion that precludes contact? Would it be seen as rude?

Thanks.

[phillyaggie]

I wonder what their reaction would be to this:



"I honor the place in you in which the entire Universe dwells, I honor the place in you which is of Love, of Integrity, of Wisdom and of Peace. When you are in that place in you, and I am in that place in me, we are One."

[ACG]

Well in general the are very non-judgmental people. When I go to their homes, I tend to dress more modestly than I would to go to the beach or something. Just to be considerate as a guest in their home. Although not every guest makes that choice, I have never seen them say anything or negatively treat a guest.

I am just trying to educate myself as much as possible to be the best guest possible.

[BeckyJ]

Interesting. I've had long conversations with almost all of the Amish women, young & old, at Hatville deli in the Reading Terminal Market. They didn't seem at all shy about talking w/ me and my husband. I know that each sect w/ its own bishop has its own internal rules about interactions, technology use, etc.

[OldCityTans]

First rule of Amish culture is you don't talk about Amish culture.

[ACG]

Interesting. I've had long conversations with almost all of the Amish women, young & old, at Hatville deli in the Reading Terminal Market. They didn't seem at all shy about talking w/ me and my husband. I know that each sect w/ its own bishop has its own internal rules about interactions, technology use, etc.

I have had more extended customer/business conversations with women at the shops in RTM, but this is a more relaxed social situation which has a different vibe.

[guzzijason]

I don't think it deals with this specific issue, but if you haven't seen it yet, go find a copy of "Devil's Playground". I found it very interesting.



__Jason

[robot]

I don't think it deals with this specific issue, but if you haven't seen it yet, go find a copy of "Devil's Playground". I found it very interesting.



__Jason

I recently read the book that this movie was based on and it was very interesting. It is amazing all of the misconceptions we have about the amish right down to "they don't use electricity".

[ACG]

I recently read the book that this movie was based on and it was very interesting. It is amazing all of the misconceptions we have about the amish right down to "they don't use electricity".

One of the things that struck me most when I first visited and toured an Amish families farm was how innovative the man was while still staying true to beliefs and way of life.

[NJbound]

I was over at the 130 marketplace a few weeks ago for a car show which has many Amish stores and all are very outgoing.. I even saw one guy in full garb(beard included) smoking, walking around.. struck me odd. I guess there are different 'concentrations' of Amish lol

[Hospitalitygirl]

Interesting. I've had long conversations with almost all of the Amish women, young & old, at Hatville deli in the Reading Terminal Market. They didn't seem at all shy about talking w/ me and my husband. I know that each sect w/ its own bishop has its own internal rules about interactions, technology use, etc.

They're mostly not Amish, but Mennonite or New Order. Some differences.

[Jaysmom]

Amish women are similar to Orthodox women in that they do not fratenize with men who are not their husbands. They are friendly but maintain a certain distance.

Regarding the electricity, different church districts allow certain degrees of electricity. However, if they have a mortgage on their house, the bank requires them to keep electricity which is why some Amish will never pay off their mortgage They have their own way around thir own rules.

[toxigal]

Amish women are similar to Orthodox women in that they do not fratenize with men who are not their husbands. They are friendly but maintain a certain distance.

Regarding the electricity, different church districts allow certain degrees of electricity. However, if they have a mortgage on their house, the bank requires them to keep electricity which is why some Amish will never pay off their mortgage They have their own way around thir own rules.

it all varies a lot, even within a small amish community.

over the years all the farms around my parent's house have been bought by several amish families. my family has become quite friendly with several of them through, mostly through a petition to keep a helicopter school from opening nearby. my father was surprised at the first township meeting when several amish women stood up and spoke about the effects this school would have on them. in general they are all very friendly, but the women act differently towards my father depending on which family they belong to. some are very open and chat with him when they go walking by and he is in the yard working, others simply say hello and keep on going.

the men will often stop and have a beer with my dad.

the kids rock the roller blades. seriously, they can move on those things!

[toxigal]

This summer, because the CSA I am part of, I have been in the company of Amish pretty often. Usually at picnics at their homes/farms. I always have a great time meeting the farmers and the other CSA members.

While I am familiar with some aspects of Amish culture, there is some I am not and have not been able to find the answers to online (it also happens that the CSA management is very busy and understaffed so I am trying to avoid having to ask them to take time out of their day to field my questions).

I have tried to engage some of the Amish women in conversation, young & old, yet I have not had a conversation that last long than a few words. On the other hand, the men seem very open to conversation with all English, men & women. I had originally thought that it would be easier to engage the Amish women than the men, but the women seem to only socialize with each other while the men engaged all English. Would it be rude to initiate a conversation with an Amish woman?

When meeting both men & women I have held back offering my hand to shake to see if they offered theirs. They have not. I know never to offer my hand to Orthodox Jewish men and why, but is there any thing in Amish culture or religion that precludes contact? Would it be seen as rude?

Thanks.

are any of these farms in lancaster? there is a big CSA farm right down the street from my parent's house.

honestly, i would just ask. be polite, explain that you want to learn more about how they live but don't want to unintentially offend.

[JackStraw]

If you go to the Boothwynn Framers' Market you will see both Amish and Mennonite sellers there. They are often confused for each other because of their dress, but Mennonite are more likely to do things and use items that the rest of us use. Don't take photographs of the Amish, however, or you will be turned into a shoo fly pie.