Amish Facts You Need To Know: Rumspringa, Buggies, And More
Being Amish is a whole lot more than riding a horse and buggy, and it’s definitely not anything like the drug-fueled Rumpsringa parties TV has to lead us to believe actually happen. The Amish are renowned for their unique traditions, from their desire to live a simple life without the complications of modern technology to their unmistakable dress code.
But to outsiders, they seem like a mysterious community that we don’t fully understand. Thanks to that, a lot of rumors swirl about what it’s really like to be Amish. This lifestyle is greatly misunderstood and there is a lot more than meets the eye. Here are some things you didn’t know about being Amish.
The Amish Have Their Own Language
Amish people may be able to speak English, but they actually have their own language. This language is known as Amish, Low German, or Pennsylvania Dutch, which is not at all like the Dutch spoken in the Netherlands. The language is actually rooted in Deutch or German.
It was spoken by early German-speaking settlers who first immigrated to Pennsylvania. This language wasn’t only spoken by a handful of settlers; it was widely popular throughout Pennsylvania. Almost half the population spoke Pennsylvania Dutch at one point in time, though today, you’d be hard-pressed to find a non-Amish person who can.
