What is a Brauchau?

A Brauchau (or Braucher) refers to a practitioner of Braucherei, a form of Pennsylvania Dutch folk magic, often called "Pow-wow," that uses Christian prayers, blessings, and German traditions for healing, protection, and removing hexes, contrasting with "black magic" (Hexerei) but sometimes seen as the same by the church. While the term is popularized by a Lifetime movie about "Amish witches," it's a real, complex tradition rooted in European folk healing that serves spiritual and practical needs within Amish and Mennonite communities.

What is Brauchau?

Braucherei or Brauche (Pennsylvania Dutch language), in English sometimes called powwow or pow-wow, is a system of Christian folk practice originating in the culture of the Pennsylvania Dutch in the 1700s.

Are the Amish witches real or fake?

In this one-hour special, follow the real Amish witches who inspired the Lifetime original movie 'Amish Witches: The True Story of Holmes County'. In this one-hour special, follow the real Amish witches who inspired the Lifetime original movie 'Amish Witches: The True Story of Holmes County'.

Is the Amish witches on Hulu based on a true story?

In this one-hour special, we will follow the real Amish witches who inspired the Lifetime original movie "Amish Witches: The True Story of Holmes County." No hidden fees, equipment rentals, or installation appointments. Hulu free trial available for new and eligible returning Hulu subscribers only.

What language do they speak in the Real Amish witches?

Amish communities speak a dialect of German among themselves. Amish children grow up speaking this dialect as their first language and only learn English when they enter formal schooling around age 6-7.

Amish Explained | Who are the Amish? What do Amish believe? Lifestyle of the Amish Explained

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.

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. 

Is Half-Hanged Mary a true story?

Yes, Margaret Atwood's poem "Half-Hanged Mary" is based on the true story of Mary Webster, a woman accused of witchcraft in 17th-century Massachusetts who survived a hanging and lived for many years afterward. Atwood, a descendant of Mary Webster, wrote the poem from Mary's perspective, chronicling her ordeal as she was hanged from a tree and left overnight, but was found alive the next morning and eventually freed. 

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 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 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.

What is the strictest Amish order?

Swartzentruber Amish - The Swartzentruber Amish are a subset of the Old Order Amish known for being even stricter than most Old Order Amish people, and for having lower standards of living. They are quicker to excommunicate and even more isolated from any non-Amish people.

What is a bruha?

A bruha (or bruja in Spanish) literally means "witch," referring to a woman with magical or spiritual powers, often associated with folk healing, intuition, or sometimes malevolent acts like hexing in Latin American cultures, but can also be a term of endearment or for a strong, cunning woman. It originates from Spanish but is used in Tagalog (Philippines) and various Latin cultures, carrying complex meanings from revered healer to feared sorceress, depending on context.
 

What is Rumspringa in Amish?

Rumspringa (Pennsylvania German for "running around") is a transitional period in some Amish communities, usually starting around age 16, where teens experience more freedom and fewer rules before deciding whether to commit to baptism and the Amish church or leave the community for the "English" (non-Amish) world. While often sensationalized as wild partying, it's fundamentally a time for socializing, finding a spouse, exploring "worldly" things like cars or movies, and making an informed adult choice about joining the church, with most teens choosing to stay after tasting freedom.
 

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.

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 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.

Do the Amish have SSN?

No, most Amish people do not have Social Security Numbers (SSNs) because their religious beliefs exempt them from participating in the system, opting out of benefits and taxes, though they do pay other taxes like income and property taxes and rely on community care instead of government aid, with exemptions secured via IRS Form 4029. While they avoid SSNs for religious reasons, they do have government IDs for other purposes, and the IRS may assign an SSN if needed for specific tax filings, but the goal is to remain outside the system. 

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.
 

How do you say hello in Amish?

To say hello in Amish (Pennsylvania Dutch), you can use common German-based greetings like "Gude Daag" (Good Day) or ask "How are you?" with "Wie bischt du heit?" (How are you today?), with responses like "Gansgoot" (Very Good). They also use English words like "Hi" or "Hello," as they speak both English and Pennsylvania Dutch. 

What nationality are most Amish?

Most Amish people are of German or Swiss-German ancestry, but the term "Amish" does not refer to an ethnic group with such ancestry, but is usually used to refer to members of the community who practice the Amish faith.

Where do the Amish get their accents?

The unique Amish accent comes from Pennsylvania Dutch (Pennsylvania German), a German dialect brought by 18th-century immigrants from the Palatinate region of Germany, mixed with English, which shapes their speech, even when speaking English, creating a distinct, older-sounding cadence. It's a linguistic time capsule, blending German roots with English influences, leading to unique pronunciations and grammar that differ from standard German or modern English.