The Members Only
The Amish have a distinct way of dressing and looking a certain way. Their look is to also show how they are separated from the outside world. The clothing is usually always handmade from cloth they buy from mills in the north that are usually run by Mennonite. There is a way they make the clothes that have to be the same as others in the same affiliation. Think of these patterns as a template for making clothes the same way. No neck ties or accessories are worn as contrasting buttons, pins, decorations like your embroidery of names, or anything that shows off can be worn. There may be a summer and winter weight cloth usage as they will get hot or cold when they stay outside.
Neither men nor women can use elastic or spandex material. Zippers are forbidden and lead to pride as they show off the contrast like military suits. Any stich lines that outline a pattern is seen as showing off and prideful. Colors that are too bold are prideful symbols and any animal shape is strictly forbidden. Ladies use pins to cinch their clothes but not too tight to see their form. Any embroidery is not allowed and shoes must be leather and dark with the hemline of their dress just above the ankles for walking barefoot.
Men and boys do not wear underwear and must wear long sleeve shirts and pants. Shorts and undershirts are forbidden and hats must be worn outside. There are laws on lapel width and how the fathers shirts are a different cut than their boys. Special occasion clothes for church and weddings are different with black and white being the color scheme. Head covering on the girls are to be worn at all times showing the submissive nature towards the men and boys as leaders is a sign of their promise to God and the bonnet covers the ladies heads when traveling.
Most Amish people go barefoot when they can. They feel like they are "closer to God's earth" and that "God intended them to go without shoes" because shoes are man made and we were created to walk the ground without help. Of course the Amish also have cobblers who make shoes and boots. It is not uncommon that you see black leather boots on them during church and other gathering. No high heels, contrasting colors, or weird laces are allowed as they draw attention in the spirit of pride to the Amish bishops so only plain leather shoes and boots for all occasions.
The vintage shoppe Amish wall clocks.
Time will tell
An Amish person is allowed to know what time it is and pocket watches are allowed while wrist watches are generally not allowed. Inside the home the mantle clock is the main style you may see while some places are allowed to have a wall clock as long as it is plain looking. Coocoo clocks are not generally allowed by the bishops as they are very ornate and may lead to pride and ego. The Amish do not observe daylight savings time and call it "fast time" so you will need to know who's time to go by.
Chores for everyone
The Amish believe everyone needs work to do. A child of 2 years old can hold the dust pan for a 3 year old sibling. You may see a 9 year old driving a buggy across the road. A 10 year old boy might be plowing a field with the disc of death behind him. The Amish believe that Adam in the book of Genesis was put here to work the garden and they need to do the same. They all work from home and they want to all eat together for their morning and evening meals so everyone gets involved.
Amish School
One room school houses
The Amish use their own private school curriculum the bishops agree with. They use 8 grades of education to get to a graduation level they feel is enough. Notice I said "8 grades" and not "8th grade" as our English school system usually produces a student far smarter than an equivalent student in the Amish school. There is no secondary school or collage for the Amish. Each boy and girl will start their apprentice education once they have finished their 8 grades of school so they can learn a trade. The Amish who do a skilled trade will take these students into their workshops to see if they like their line of work. Girls will have their own type of skills that are they learn from other ladies that teach them a ladies type of work.
Rumspringa
During the time between graduation of school and joining the church, the kids are treated like adults and will not undergo church discipline so they can taste of the world to see if they will turn their back on it to become baptized into the Amish church system. They believe a person cannot fully choose to follow their way unless they had seen what they need to in order to turn away from the world to become baptized. Most of our English TV shows depict this time period as a way to run wild and do all manner of trouble without repercussions but this is not true. Each Amish parent is still in charge of them and have rules they must follow.
The youth are also allowed to have meetings where they get together and talk with each other as these are done at their parents homes in hopes they will find a mate. The Amish believe in connecting early and finding a mate will generally lead to the youth staying inside the Amish way of life and getting baptized into the church. Once the person finds a person who they like they have a way of making it known. I share this in the paid version of the course.
Amish Church in home.
Baptism into the home church
The Amish have church every two weeks for worship in a home or barn inside their church district. They never disclose what home is going to have church to anyone outside the district. You may see the pew wagon and hymnal chest arriving at a home while you are out. Once you get to be 18 years of age or more you can start to go to baptism class. These classes are designed to teach you the ways and responsibilities of living as a member of their church. Once the person is done with the classes and talks with the bishop and minister they can be allowed to be baptized by pouring water over their head three times. Each pour for the father, son, and holy spirit. Until a person is baptized, they are not considered part of the church economy and therefore not members of the body of Christ. This is why to leave the church before baptism is not as harsh as leaving after getting baptized. After you get baptized the sins you commit can get you shunned and removed from the church so you are treated worse than an unbeliever while those who never got baptized are seen as part of the world.
A community of baptized members
The person who believes and gets baptized can seek the fruits of the community so any help they may need can be done for them. A house and barn can get blown over in a tornado and 200 men will be there the next day to build it back. The community will stop at nothing to help a member. Of course the members who get help also reciprocate the favor when another member needs help. All of this goes back to the community of goods that separated the Hutterites from the Swiss Brethren in 1528 when the Hutterite made their own branch of Anabaptist line and a true community of goods.
The Amish would continue the way of the Mennonite in that they fellowship in a community for worship and needs. The only way to receive the help of the community is to be in good standing among your fellow believing church members.
Conclusion:
I hope this lesson helped you understand a bit more about the Amish people. My premium course goes into much more detail but I think you can get a general understanding from this lesson. The next lesson is on the myths and misconceptions of the Amish people we hear most about so move on to the next lesson.