I’ve always been curious about the Amish way of life and would go with Bort, my ex to some of the Amish farms in Lancaster when he would need something done for the horses. These people know how to survive without electricity and all of the modern conveniences of the outside world and are very hard workers. Not all Amish are farmers and some do hold jobs in the outside world yet they are able to still maintain their cloistered way of life.
Anytime I see something on TV about the Amish I usually watch. A few years back they had a reality show where they had a house and had gathered together young Amish and English (as we’re called) young people for a show. I don’t recall what it was about now, but it was interesting at the time finding out about some of their beliefs and ways of life and it seems they were in the period of Rumspringa. Amish kids, not all seem to go wild, like a Spring break.
Rumspringa is derived from the Pennsylvania German term for “running around”) is an accepted rite of passage at the age of 16 in some Amish communities to basically go out and experiment with the outside world and many do this on weekends even while still living at home while others band together and rent an apartment. Apparently it’s a time to spread your wings and sow your wild oats and decide if you want to live on the outside or return and be baptized and live the Amish way of life. This period of time is actually looked on as a time of courtship and finding a mate.
It’s not that the Amish encourage their 16 year old teens to go out and drink, do drugs, shop, cut their hair, own and drive cars, have sex, own cell phones and party their brains out, but it’s accepted and not many questions are asked if they do these things because they want them to be able to make an informed choice. They don’t baptize their young, they are very strict in their teachings and teach them morals and the accepted way of their beliefs and at 16 if they choose to experiment then it’s accepted, but when they decide to return and be baptized then Rumspringa is over.
Some choose not to go back after having a taste of independance and their own money and decide to stay in the English world of corruption, but most do return to their homes and give up the outside ways. When we were riding the bike through the Buck in Lancaster I thought it was funny that a young Amish guy in his buggy was talking on a cell phone, they do buy them and hide them because they aren’t allowed in their homes. Teenagers are the same regardless of their culture and upbringing and they all want to experiment and during Rumspringa that is exactly what the Amish youth do.
24 comments so far
Leave a reply