It is important to the Amish to uphold their Christian duties and keep the peace – specifically the zen haven that they’ve created for themselves within their community. It’s also crucial that they not use any type of force on another human being. Because they cannot do any harm to their fellow humans, they avoid the military like the plague.
There probably isn’t even any type of law enforcement individual in their community – maybe just a spiritual leader or two.
Breaking Bread Together
While it seemed that the Amish were behind and somewhat removed from society, within their groups, there’s a great sense of community and belonging. The Amish are sharing, generous people, and regularly host communal meals. Basically, families put on a big spread for their Amish brothers and sisters, using food and drink as a way to bond the community tighter.
It is extremely important to keep this tradition because the sharing of meals provides a place to communicate and enjoy oneself. The way it works is that each family brings something to the table to share. Whether one family specializes in meat or dairy, or another in baked goods, each will provide a plate or dish to share with the community.
Avoiding Serious Ailments
There must be something in the water, or maybe it's just the traditional, organic lifestyle that allows the Amish to reap lots of health benefits. For example, it has been reported that the Amish rarely get cancer. We wonder if modern technology is to blame.
Health professionals will probably agree that their “simple” lifestyle contributes greatly to their health. Living within an Amish community seems to decrease your chances of contracting any sort of serious illness. The secret? Organic, homegrown produce. No mass-produced, genetically modified, preservative-filled nasties. Also, the fact that they keep away from alcohol and cigarettes surely has a lot to do with it too.
Women Only Have Four Dresses
There is no need for a full closet of dresses when you are a part of the Amish community. You only need four, as there is one for wash, one for wear, one for dress, and one for spare. All of the dresses are simple and come in plain colors that go with a plain-colored cape.
They also wear a prayer cap, in case women feel the need to pray wherever they may be.
Yodeling is Not For the Faint-Hearted
And also apparently not common in every Amish community! The art of yodeling is mainly practiced within the Swiss Amish community of Adams County, IN.
In the book ' Plain Diversity: Amish Cultures and Identities' , authored by Steven Nolt and Thomas Meyers, the yodeling of the community is explored. Nolt and Meyers go on to say that "they yodel both German-language folksongs and English-language ballads. Many of these English lyrics are in the vein of traditional love songs or accounts of desperados-yodels that the church does not approve of. The presence of such deviant English songs may be puzzling, but they point to the strength of the ethnic tradition among the Swiss group. "