What do Amish kids do when they turn 16?

When Amish kids turn 16, they enter Rumspringa, a period of "running around" where they're allowed freedom to explore the modern world (cars, phones, parties) before deciding on full church baptism, though many stick to traditional youth activities like "singings" (social gatherings) to find mates, with most eventually choosing to commit to the Amish faith, according to sources like NPR, DutchCrafters and HowStuffWorks.

What happens when Amish turns 16?

When Amish youth turn 16, they enter Rumspringa, a period of adolescence where they're allowed to experience "the world" before committing to baptism, often involving driving cars, wearing modern clothes, and attending parties, but most still choose to return to the Amish faith, finding more fulfillment in their community than the temptations they explore. It's a time for socializing, finding a spouse, and deciding whether to join the church or leave. 

What does an Amish girl have to do when she turns 16?

The Amish tradition of Rumspringa begins around age 16, offering young Amish men and women the chance to explore life beyond their community's boundaries. Rumspringa varies in length, allowing each individual to take the time they need to explore.

How long does Rumspringa last for Amish?

Rumspringa doesn't have a fixed end date but typically lasts from age 16 until a youth chooses to be baptized into the Amish church or leaves the community, usually concluding by their early-to-mid-20s, with most decisions made within a couple of years of starting. It's a period of "running around" to experience the outside world before committing to Amish life, ending with baptism or departure, though many choose to stay, with high retention rates. 

How long does Rumspringa take?

Rumspringa, the Amish rite of passage, starts around age 16 and has no fixed end date, lasting until the youth chooses to be baptized into the church (typically 18-22) or leaves the community, though most eventually return and join, often within a few years of starting. It's a period of exploring the "English" (non-Amish) world, allowing more freedom before committing to adult baptism, and its length varies by individual and community.
 

Amish Girls Visit An English Supermarket For The First Time | Return To Amish

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.
 

Do Amish girls get pregnant during Rumspringa?

Rumspringa is a period that begins at age sixteen and ends with the promise of baptism, during this period young Amish are exposed to the outside world. Another problem the Amish community faces during the Rumspringa period is unexpected pregnancy.

Why do Amish remove girl teeth?

It is not uncommon in some Amish groups to have inadequate oral health knowledge and have the teeth pulled out by unlicensed and uneducated “dentists” to get dentures since this is more cost effective than tending to each.

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. 

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. 

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. 

Do Amish men use condoms?

Therefore, the use of condoms by Amish men is strictly forbidden and condemned in most, if not all, Amish communities.

How many Amish kids come back after Rumspringa?

The vast majority of Amish youth, typically 80% to 90%, choose to return to the Amish church after Rumspringa and get baptized, despite experiencing the freedoms of the modern world. While some leave permanently for the "English" world, the strong pull of family, community, faith, and a sense of belonging brings most back to their traditional plain living, although retention rates can vary by community.
 

How do Amish deal with periods?

Amish women manage periods using traditional, reusable methods like cloth pads (often homemade rags) for absorption, similar to historical practices before modern disposables, focusing on resourcefulness and cleanliness by washing and reusing them, while also relying on family planning through calendar-based fertility awareness to avoid pregnancy, reflecting their simple, faith-based lifestyle. 

What do Amish teens do for fun?

During Rumspringa, Amish youth enter a time of greater social activity. Traditional youth activities include volleyball, swimming, ice skating, picnics, hiking, and large outdoor “supper” parties.

Can Amish people kiss before marriage?

Yes, Amish couples can kiss before marriage, but it's often very limited and happens privately, usually during "bundling" or late-night courting sessions where they might share a kiss after some rocking or conversation, but public affection is frowned upon, and strict rules (like a board in bed) are sometimes used to maintain modesty and prevent premarital sex, though premarital sex does occur despite being a sin. 

Is inbreeding common in Amish?

Yes, the Amish practice a form of inbreeding, or more accurately, endogamy (marrying within their closed community), which leads to higher rates of genetic relatedness and the increased prevalence of specific genetic conditions, as they descend from a small group of founders with limited gene flow from outsiders. While they avoid close cousin marriage (first cousins), their limited pool of marriage partners, due to cultural isolation, means many marriages are between second or third cousins, increasing the chance of recessive disorders appearing, like Ellis-van Creveld syndrome (dwarfism with extra fingers). 

Can an Amish woman remarry if her husband dies?

When Can An Amish Man or Woman Remarry? An Amish person may only remarry after their spouse's death. The courtship process is discreet and typically done through mail as a sign of respect for the deceased. Even after a separation, any new relationship is seen as adultery.

Can Amish people fly?

Most Amish people generally do not fly due to their commitment to a humble, non-worldly lifestyle, but it's not absolutely forbidden, especially for emergencies or by more liberal groups like the New Order Amish, who may fly for business or essential travel when other options are impractical, though trains and buses are preferred for long distances. Air travel is viewed as extravagant and too connected to the outside world, but exceptions are made for critical needs like emergency medical transport. 

Do the Amish circumcise their boys?

Yes, many Amish communities practice infant male circumcision, often arranged through midwives, though it's not universal across all groups, with about two-thirds of communities reportedly promoting it as a health practice rather than a strict religious ritual. 

How often do the Amish brush their teeth?

Amish dental habits vary, but many brush less often than the typical twice daily, with some sources showing most brush less than once a day, while still maintaining surprisingly good oral health, possibly due to diet and genetics, though some do prioritize regular brushing. While some sources suggest women often brush once or twice daily, others indicate lower overall frequency, with a small percentage never brushing, yet they still have fewer cavities than the general population.
 

What language do Amish people speak?

Amish people primarily speak Pennsylvania Dutch (Pennsylvania German) (their home language), English (for interacting with the outside world and in education), and High German (for religious services and scripture), using three languages to navigate their distinct cultural and religious life. Pennsylvania Dutch, their first language, is a German dialect that developed from immigrants in the 18th century, with some English influence, while High German connects them to their religious heritage.
 

What are common Amish last names?

Common Amish last names include Yoder, Miller, Stoltzfus, King, Fisher, Lapp, Bontrager, Hershberger, and Troyer, reflecting their close-knit communities and shared European heritage, with variations common by region like Stoltzfus and King in Pennsylvania, and Bontrager and Lehman in Indiana.
 

Can Amish have C sections?

who've had one cesarean continue to do so for subsequent births. That's not the case in a birth center used by a Wisconsin Amish community in La Farge. There, 95 percent of Amish women who had a c-section opted for nonsurgical births after that. In the general population only 8 percent of women do so.

Do the Amish marry their cousins?

Yes, the Amish often marry cousins, though first cousins are usually avoided, while second and third cousins marrying is common due to marrying within their small, closed community (endogamy), leading to shared genes and specific genetic traits. While not forced, the limited pool of eligible partners within their faith often results in marriages between people who share distant common ancestors, creating a high degree of relatedness over generations.