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Image: Donald Reese Photography

 

What comes to mind when you think of the word “Amish?” Most likely, men with long beards, black buggies and women in plain dresses rollerblading down the street. A group of traditionalist Christians, the Pennsylvania Dutch as they are also called are known for their simple living, lack of vanity and refusal to adopt the conveniences of modern technology.

According to historical records, the Amish emigrated to Pennsylvania in the 1800’s in order to find a rural place to set up their communities without the interference of urban growth and development. A recent study has shown that the sect has grown in population to 227,000 from 165,000 in the year 2000. This is due to the fact that most Amish women have a minimum of 6-7 children. We can’t imagine how much they have to work out to maintain post-baby bodies.

In order to become a full-fledged member of the Amish church, you must be baptized between the ages of 16-25, and marriage is a requirement within the church community. For the most part, Amish live off the governmental grid and do not have any types of commercial insurance and refuse to take part in social security. We guess no one there will be retiring from plowing or feeding the chickens.

While the Amish for the outsider looking in may seem like a simple and peaceful people, they actually have some crazy and weird practices that will make your head spin. For starters, there is no such thing as “dating” because young Amish men and women only court and you only court the person you plan to marry. Talk about being cornered in early. The Amish also have sleeping ritual that involves sharing a bed with a wooden board separating the man and woman, which certainly takes the concept of safe sex to an entirely new level.

We did some research and found 30 details about the Amish community that we’re sure they keep hidden for a reason. Check them out!

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