Amish Customs
Like many traditional cultures in the world, the Amish practices and customs have their roots deep in their ancestry, so that even the leaders of the communities don’t remember how and why they came about. What they do know is that these traditions have defined their culture both internally and externally, and that these centuries-old traditions have provided cohesion. Below I offer a summary of several of these traditions.
Horse and Buggy Travel
The horse and buggy is an icon of Amish life. During the time that cars were being adopted in the mainstream culture, Amish leaders decided to eschew this form of modernity, which is part of what defines the Amish culture to this day.
Amish Church Singing
Traditional Amish church singing is done in a slow German chant and is as old as the Anabaptist traditions which date back to the 1500s and sounds like chants from many traditions from around the world.
Plain Clothing
Plain dress is a recognizable feature of the Amish culture. The origin of this tradition is little known, even within the culture. Plain dress began as a cultural practice rather than a religious one with the sumptuary laws in Switzerland.
Circle Letters
The Amish tradition of writing circle letters is largely unknown in the mainstream culture. It includes a group of friends or relatives receiving the same letters, and each writer sending it to the next person.
Naming Practices
Few people are aware of how different Amish naming practices are from those in the mainstream culture. Because both first and last names are common in the culture, they have a way to tell one John Miller from another.
Shunning
If a member of an Amish church leaves their community, they will normally be shunned by their community members. Rules include no longer being able to eat with their family and community members.