Learn more about the Amish

With more than 1,200 Amish people making their homes in and around town, Kalona is the largest Amish settlement west of the Mississippi River. The Amish prefer to live close to the land and to work close to home. Many are employed as farmers or work in some way that's related to farming. The Amish believe in the power of the group, taking care of their own, and reject many modern conveniences, like electricity, because it may make them less dependent on the community or might lead to individual or family vanity. Even with few modern conveniences, the Amish still enjoy a very comfortable lifestyle, with lots of free time to spend together as a family. Most Amish do not see their lives as overly restrictive. In fact, in some ways their community standards, or “ordnung,” give them a certain amount of freedom, always knowing what is allowed and not allowed. Note that there are always exceptions, and not all Amish follow the same practices.

Not all Amish follow the same practices:

• The Old Order Amish do not use electricity, telephones, cars or other modern conveniences.

• The New Order Amish permit rubber tires on farm vehicles.

• The Beachy Amish use electricity and telephones, drive cars and own modern appliances and farm equipment.

• You may also hear mention of the Mennonites, who share a common heritage and some of the same beliefs, but for the most part use all modern technology.

• The Amish are Protestant Christians who believe in a literal interpretation of the Bible.

The typical Amish family...

• uses an oil or woodburning stove for heat.

• uses gas lanterns or kerosene lamps for light.

• has an indoor toilet and running water.

• uses a windmill to pump water.

• uses a horse and buggy to get to town.

• uses horses or tractors with steel wheels to pull farm machinery.

Living a simpler way of life

• The Amish put a great value on working together and taking care of their own. Because of this belief, they do not generally buy insurance or pay into or collect Social Security.

• You may notice some Amish farms with a smaller house built next to a larger house. This is referred to as a “Grandpa House,” where the older generation of a family lives after they pass their farm onto the younger generation.

• It is not uncommon for an Amish family to have eight to ten children.

• Amish children attend school through the 8th grade.

• It is estimated that approximately 90% of Amish children stay in the faith as they grow up. With an estimated 200,000 Amish in the United States, their numbers are rapidly growing.

Q.  Why do the Amish turn their backs on modern technology?

A.  The Amish believe in the power of the group, taking care of their own, and reject many modern conveniences, like electricity, because it may make them less dependent on the community or might lead to individual or family vanity.

It's interesting to note that although the typical Amish family will not have a telephone in their home, they usually have a communal phone in an outbuilding that they would share with several other Amish families. This way they can use the phone for necessary communication, but not for idle gossip.

In the same way, the typical Old Order Amish family would not own a car, but they may accept an occasional ride from a neighbor or hire a local driver to take them out of state to visit friends or families.

Q.  Why do the Amish dress the way they do?

A.  Because they put a high value on humility, the Amish prefer to dress in a way that doesn't call attention to themselves. That is why you'll see mostly solid colors, no patterns, florals or stripes. Some groups do restrict buttons, preferring to use snap fasteners or hooks and eyes.

Q.  Why do the Amish men wear beards, but not mustaches?

A.  Single Amish men are actually clean-shaven. It is married men who grow a beard. Mustaches are not allowed because of their long association with the military and because if a man grew a mustache, it could lead to individual feelings of vanity.

Q.  Where do they go to church?

A.  The Amish do not meet in a church building, but rather at each other's homes. This custom goes back hundreds of years when many were persecuted for their faith in Germany and Switzerland. Church services are conducted in High German, although at home they speak a German dialect that is liberally sprinkled with English words and phrases.

Please be considerate:

• Drive slowly and carefully as you make your way around a horse and buggy.

• Be respectful of the privacy of the Amish people. They do not like to be photographed because they believe that photographs violate the biblical teaching against making graven images (Exodus 20:4).