FAQ: The Northern Indiana Amish Culture

The Amish, the Mennonites, the Brethren, and the Hutterites are all branches of the Anabaptist movement, started in Switzerland in the early 1500s.  The Amish moved further north in Europe to escape persecution and eventually came to Pennsylvania in the early 1700s, then west to other states in the 1800s.

There are around 400,000 Amish in the United States and another 6,000 in Canada.  They are scattered among 700 settlements, large and small, in about 35 states.  (A settlement is an area with at least one church district.) 

Two thirds of the Amish are found in Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

Yes!  The Amish in Lagrange & Elkhart Counties in northern Indiana are the typical and common Old Order Amish.  But in other places there are Swiss Amish, white buggy Nebraska Amish, yellow buggy Byler Amish, Andy Weaver (Danner) Amish, and the most conservative group, the  Swartzentruber Amish.

Typically the Amish travel by horse and buggy.  Bicycles are very common in northern Indiana, as well as smaller pony carts.  Many people walk to school or church.  The Amish will also take trains or hire cars and drivers when needed, but they typically don't fly.

The Amish want to be separate from the mainstream culture in their appearance.  They also want to keep the emphasis away from clothes, hair, jewelry, etc. by dressing plainly and uniformly.  The overall look of their clothing has changed very little since they came to America over 300 years ago.

I have always found them to be!  If you approach them with a combination of friendliness and respect for their culture, you will find them to be very easy to talk to.   I often approach Amish people I don't know to ask a question or get permission for a photo.

Amish children go to school from grades 1 to 8, most of them in Amish one-room schools with two teachers, each teaching four grades.  

After 8th grade graduation, learning continues on the farm as they acquire the many practical skills needed for Amish life.

The Amish first learn "Pennsylvania Dutch" as children; it is a colloquial form of German.  When they start 1st grade at age 7, they learn English, the language used in their schools.  They also learn Old German in school, the language of their Bible and hymnbook.

Pictured here are some items for sale from an Amish rag rug maker.  As a general rule, if there is a sign by the road, you're welcome to stop by.  But I would advise tourists to stick to shops where they have at least some chance of buying something and aren't just snooping.

Yes and no...  The Amish faith prohibits images of the human face, so they don't want their pictures taken.  But photos of farms, buggies, animals, fieldwork, gardens, etc. are fine, if done with respect.  Take photos from a distance, or if up close, ask first.   

The Amish have church on their home farms, taking turns to host, sitting on benches.  The service is three hours long, mostly in "Dutch," with Bible readings and hymns in Old German.  There is a meal afterwards.  Church is held every other week, with the alternate weeks for resting or visiting other church districts.

Check out the home page for Susan's books on the northern Indiana Amish culture, our social media links, and information about a guided tour or Amish meal for your family or group.  Tours can be 2 to 8 hours and are customized.  Gary and I love to answer your questions!