Statewide County OhArchives News.....Tid-Bits - Part 115B: The Plain People - The Amish of Ohio. Their Lifestyle. May 26, 2008 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/oh/ohfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Darlene E. Kelley http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00026.html#0006374 May 27, 2008, 3:38 pm Historical Collections Of Ohio, And Then They Went West, Know Your Ohio May 10, 2008 May 26, 2008 Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Darlene E. Kelley http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00026.html#0006374 May 26, 2008 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Historical Collections of Ohio And Then They Went West Know Your Ohio Tid-Bits - Part 115 B The Plain People - Amish of Ohio Their Lifestyle by Darlene E. Kelley ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Part 115 B. The Plain People The Amish of Ohio Their Lifestyle. The Old Order Amish women and girls in Ohio wear modest dresses made from solid color fabric with full sleeves and a full skirt ( not shorter than half way between knee and floor). These dresses are covered with a cape and apron and are fastened with straight pins or snaps. They never cut their hair, which they wear in a bun on the back of the head. On their heads they wear a white prayer covering if they are married and a black one if they are single. Amish women do not wear jewelry. For burial they wear white Men and boys wear dark colored suits, straight cut coats without lapels, broadfall trousers, suspenders, solid color shirts, black socks and shoes, and black or straw broad brimmed hats. Their shirts fasten with conventional buttons, but their suit coats and vests fasten with hooks and eyes. They do not have mustaches, but they grow beards after they marry. The men wear broad brimmed hats of black felt. The width of the brim and hat band and the height and shape of the crown are variables which guage the oxthodoxy of the group and the individual wearer. A wide brim, low crown, and a narrow hat band denotes the oldest and most traditional style. Within church groups, one's age and status is often reflected by the dimenions of one's hat. For warm weather, straw hats are preferred by plain men. The Amish feel these distinctive clothes encourages humility and separation from the world. Their clothing is not a costume; it is an expression of their faith.. There are quite a few scriptures in the Bible that mentions beards. An example would be Psalms 133:1,2. An Amishman does not shave his beard after he becomes married; a long beard is the mark of an adult Amishman. Mustaches, on the other hand, have a long history of being associated with the military, and therefore are forbidden among them. In their homes and in conversations with each other, the Old Order Amish speak Pennsylvania Dutch, which is a dialect of German. We understand that it is simular to " Platt " that is spoken in parts of northern Germany. When the children go to school they learn English. In their worship services the sermons are given in German. The German language, " Deitch" is also taught in Amish schools. Their buggies thoughout the United States are not all black. The simularity of Amish carriages in any given area allows little for status, but speaks of all being equal. Therefore, members of a particular group can be indentified by the buggies they drive. The two most conservative groups drive white topped buggies, another has yellow tops, and two thers use balck buggies. The Old Order Amish drive gray buggies and the Old Order Mennonites drive black buggies. Amish families play games and read together in the evenings. Parents are involved in their children's activities. However, there are not long evenings in an Amish family. When the children get home from school, there ae chores that must be done. At an early age, children have responsibilities assigned to them. After the evening meal, the school homework must be tackled, and before long it is bedtime. Amish are early risers and therefore go to bed early. Holidays observed by the Amish are the religious holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Good-Friday, Easter Ascension Day, Pentecost, and Whit Monday ( the day after pentecost ). The reasons for these observances are to fast and meditate on scriptures related to those days. Also, December 25 is a solemn celebration of Christ's birth and " second Christmas " on December 26 is a time for visiting and family dinners. Most Amish groups do not oppose modern medicine. Their readiness to seek health services varies from family to family. Nothing in the Amish understanding of the Bible forbids them from using modern medical services, including surgery, hospitalization, dental work, anesthesia, blood transfusions, etc. They do believe, however, that good health, both physical and mental, is a gift from God and requires careful stewardsip on the part of the individual. With few exceptions, physicians rate the Amish as desirable patients as they are stable, appreciative, and their bills will be paid. They do not have hospitialization insurance, but they band together to help pay for medical expenses for anyone of their group who need financial assistance. A designated leader in the Amish community is given responsibility for their mutual aid fund. Musical instruments are forbidden by the Old Older Amish community. Playing an instrument would be " worldly." It is contrary to the spirit of " Glassenheit " ( humility ), and would stir up the emotions of those involved. Funeral and burial usually takes place three days after death. A funeral director from the local area assists in a minimal way, which usually includes embalming, and sometimes includes supplying the coffin and hearse. In death, as in life the simplicity is evident. A plain wooden coffin is built. Often it is six-sided with a split lie-- the upper part is hinged so it can be opened for viewing of the body. It is very simple -- no ornate carving or fine fabrics. Traditionally a woman will wear the white apron she wore on her wedding day. In some Amish communities both men and women wear white for burial. The tone of the two hour Amish funeral service is hopeful, yet full of admonition for the living. There are no eulogies. Respect for the deceased is expressed, but not praise. A hymn is spoken but not sung. There are no flowers. The grave is hand dug in an Amish church district cemetery. There will be only a simple tombstone to mark the spot, much like all the other tombstones in the cemetery. "In death as in life, we are all equal and do not elevate one person above another." Family is the core eliment in the Amish Church, and choosing a mate is the most important decision in an Amishman;s life. Boys and girls begin their search for a spouse when they turn sixteen. By the time a young woman turns twenty or a young man is in his early twenties, he or she is probably looking forward to the wedding day. But several definate steps must be taken by a couple before they can marry. Both must join the Amish church. They are baptized into the Amish faith and are responsible for following the Ordnung. The Ordnung is a written and unwritten set of rules for daily living. Joining the church prepares the young couple for the seriousness of setting up their own home. The young man asks his girl to marry him, but does not give her a diamond. He may give her china or a clock. The couple keeps their intentions secret until July or August. At this time the young woman tells her family about her plans to marry. A whirlwind of activity begins after Fast Day on October 11. Fall communion takes place the following church Sunday. After communion, proper certification of membership is requested, and is given by the second Sunday after communion. This is a major day in the life of the church because all the couples who plan to marry are " published." At the end of the service, te deacons announces the names of the girls and who they plan to marry, The fathers then announce the date and time of the wedding and invite the members to attend. The betrothed couple does not attend the church service on the Sunday they are published. Instead, the young woman prepares a meal for her fiancee and they enjoy dinner alone at her home. When the girl's family returns from church, the daughter formally introduces her fiancee to her parents. After being published, the young people have just a few days before the ceremony. They are permitted to go to one last meeting with their old group of friends. The girl also helps her mother prepare for the wedding and feast which takes place in her parent's home. The boy is busy extending personal invitations to members of his church district. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Continued in Part 115 C File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/oh/statewide/newspapers/tidbitsp119nw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/ohfiles/ File size: 9.1 Kb