Do the Amish watch TV?

No, traditional Amish people generally do not watch TV; they avoid it, along with computers and public electricity, to preserve their close-knit community, family structure, and simple lifestyle by limiting outside influences and worldly temptations. While some more modern Amish groups might allow limited technology (like phones for business), and non-Amish visitors might watch TV in their homes, personal TV ownership within the community is strongly discouraged as it's seen as a distraction and potential threat to their cultural values.

Are the Amish allowed to watch TV?

No, traditional Amish communities generally do not have televisions in their homes because they believe it weakens family and community bonds by introducing outside influences and distractions, though some may watch TV at a neighbor's or friend's house if visiting, and less strict groups might have different rules, but outright home ownership of TVs is rare. The Amish selectively adopt technology, rejecting mass media like TV for its impact on their close-knit lifestyle, preferring face-to-face interaction. 

How often do Amish bathe?

Amish bathing frequency varies, but many conservative groups bathe about once a week, often on Saturday nights, due to limited hot running water, using large tubs filled with manually heated water, while some more modern communities might bathe more often or shower daily, especially if they have modern conveniences like running water. Personal hygiene is important, but methods differ, with some using buckets for sponge baths or washing hair with homemade soaps.
 

How do Amish cook without electricity?

Amish cooks use clever, non-electric methods like wood-burning cookstoves (the centerpiece for heating, baking, simmering), propane/gas ranges, cast-iron cookware for even heat, outdoor fire pits, and even manual tools like hand-cranked beaters, supplemented with creative solutions like ice-harvesting for refrigeration and solar power for some needs, focusing on natural heat, manual labor, and simple technology for efficiency.
 

What do the Amish do for entertainment?

Amish fun centers on community, faith, and nature, involving group singing, barn raisings, and visiting; popular pastimes include outdoor games like softball, volleyball, and ice skating, board games (like Monopoly, Settlers of Catan), hunting, fishing, reading, and enjoying seasonal activities like creek swimming or ice hockey, with activities often blending work and socializing for a strong community bond.
 

Incredible Insight Into Amish Culture - Part 1

What do Amish use instead of toilet paper?

Amish people traditionally use simple, reusable items like old rags or cloth, alongside readily available natural materials such as leaves, corn cobs, or even newspaper pages, often seeing manufactured toilet paper as an unnecessary luxury, though some progressive groups do use it. Their choices reflect resourcefulness, simplicity, and waste reduction, with reusable cloths being washed and reused for hygiene.
 

Can the Amish use condoms?

No, generally Amish people avoid modern contraceptives like condoms, viewing children as blessings from God and preferring large families, though some might quietly use natural methods for health or financial reasons, as practices aren't strictly uniform across all groups. While not always forbidden, using birth control goes against the core belief that family size is God's will, so it's often discouraged, but church discipline for contraception alone is rare. 

What is forbidden for Amish?

As part of their Ordnung, Old Order Amish forbid owning automobiles; tapping electricity from public utility lines; owning televisions, radios, or personal computers; attending high school or college; joining the military; and initiating divorce. All Amish groups expect men and women to wear prescribed clothing.

Do Amish have social security numbers?

No, most Old Order Amish do not have Social Security Numbers (SSNs) because they are religiously exempt from paying into the system, but they still pay other taxes (income, sales, property) and use alternative ways, like IRS Form 4029, to verify identity and citizenship for things like passports, though SSNs are sometimes assigned by the SSA for record-keeping if needed for other federal purposes. They don't receive SS benefits but provide for their own elderly and needy. 

What is the obesity rate in the Amish?

The Amish have just a 4% obesity rate—9x lower than most Americans. They're less anxious and live longer than most of us. Their secret? Not restrictive diets, gyms, or fitness trackers.

What must an Amish bride do on her wedding night?

On their wedding night, an Amish woman spends her first night as a wife in her parents' home, often with playful pranks from friends, before helping with cleanup the next day, as the "honeymoon" involves visiting relatives to receive gifts, not a separate trip. The evening involves celebration, but the focus is on community and preparation for starting their new life, often living with parents initially. 

Why do Amish remove their teeth?

Amish people sometimes have teeth removed, often by unlicensed local "dentists," to avoid the high costs of modern dental care, view dentures as a simpler, cheaper solution, or as a cultural practice (like a rite of passage or pre-marriage), but this is often due to poverty, isolation from mainstream healthcare, and traditional practices, leading to poor oral health and reliance on extractions rather than fillings or crowns. 

What is the Indian wiping method?

Importantly, Indians use their left hand to clean themselves. They do so because the notion of pollution attaches itself to the hand that touches the feces. The fingers that have touched feces are not entirely purified even after they are washed using soap.

Do Amish ladies wear bras?

Yes, most Amish women wear bras, but they are typically plain, functional cotton styles (not lacy or fancy), and in some very conservative communities, a hand-sewn alternative garment might be used instead of a store-bought bra for modesty and nursing needs. The specific undergarments vary by community, but the general principle is simplicity and practicality, not adornment. 

How do Amish stay warm in winter?

Amish families stay warm in winter primarily through strategic home heating with wood/coal stoves, thick home insulation (thermal mass), heavy winter clothing, and personal items like hot water bottles, while using propane/coal heaters or blankets for buggy travel, relying on simple, non-electric methods to generate and retain heat. They prepare by stockpiling firewood and using natural insulation in their sturdy, well-built homes, focusing on warmth through proximity to the heat source and thick textiles.
 

Do Amish use disposable diapers?

It is also not unusual to see Amish using such 2Oth-century technologies as inline skates, disposable diapers, cell phones and gas barbecue grills, because they are not specifically prohibited by the Ordnung.

What is the average income of an Amish person?

Amish annual incomes vary widely, from modest earnings for farmers (around $40k-$50k) to significant wealth for successful business owners (millions), with many earning in the $40,000 to $75,000 range, especially in thriving enterprises like furniture, construction, and manufacturing, though figures are hard to pin down due to lack of public reporting. Their income depends heavily on their occupation, with business success often leading to wealth, which is reinvested rather than spent on lavish displays, notes DutchCrafters and Quora users.
 

How does Amish give birth?

Amish women typically give birth at home with midwives, preferring natural, low-tech, and communal settings, staying active during labor (chores, walking), avoiding pain medication, and relying on family support for postpartum recovery, though hospital births are an option for complications. They focus on simplicity, modesty (keeping pregnancies quiet), and view birth as a blessing, often having large families.
 

Do Amish people have police?

Yes, Amish people interact with regular police and rely on them for serious crimes and emergencies, but they primarily handle internal issues themselves, preferring non-resistance and community resolution, though some stricter groups may avoid outside help more, while law enforcement works to build bridges for education and cooperation.
 

How many wifes can Amish have?

Amish men can only have one wife at a time, as polygamy (having multiple wives) is not practiced, and divorce is generally not allowed, making marriages monogamous lifelong commitments, though widowers can remarry within their community, often to an older single woman or a widow for companionship or family formation. 

Do Amish use condoms?

No, generally Amish people avoid modern contraceptives like condoms, viewing children as blessings from God and preferring large families, though some might quietly use natural methods for health or financial reasons, as practices aren't strictly uniform across all groups. While not always forbidden, using birth control goes against the core belief that family size is God's will, so it's often discouraged, but church discipline for contraception alone is rare. 

Can Amish look in mirrors?

Yes, the Amish can look in mirrors, and they use them for grooming, like fixing hair and shaving, as mirrors aren't considered vanity objects or "graven images" in the same way photographs are; the prohibition is more about avoiding vanity and individualism, with mirrors serving practical purposes in homes for daily routines, though they avoid posing for photos.
 

Do Amish men wear underpants?

Yes, most Amish men wear underwear, typically simple, practical styles like boxers or briefs, similar to store-bought basic cotton ones, though some very traditional groups might have rules against them or prefer homemade versions, with a focus on modesty and plainness rather than modern, fancy designs. 

Do Amish females shave?

No, generally Amish women do not shave; they typically do not remove body hair, including leg or underarm hair, as it's seen as vanity or going against their simple lifestyle, with some communities even forbidding it, contrasting with Amish men who often shave their faces clean but grow beards. 

Are Amish men circumcised?

It depends on the community. We are currently working with a Mennonite community and all the boys that have been born were circumcised. There is an Amish community downstate that doesn't circumcise. So it really depends on the community as to what they practice.