Amish

I live in a huge Amish community, and although I'm not sure I know exactly what you're asking; I can tell you my experiences.

Once an Amish dies, his family( the old-order Amish believe in keeping their family in their homes not nursing homes) keeps him in their house for a viewing, instead of a funeral parlor. Friends and family, both Amish and "English" (as they call us) are invited. It can be kind of creepy if you don't know what to expect. Since old-order Amish do not have electricity, the house is dark, and so in the evenings, they put a lantern or flashlight up to the deceased one's body and/or face. They then have a funeral at the house ( they do not have church buildings but instead meet in each other's houses for Sunday services) and then there is a long procession of buggies going towards the Amish graveyard.

By the way, as a side note, many Amish are very superstitious, and believe when they see white doves flying overhead, someone they are close to has passed away. It's funny how often this really does happen, often when one of my Amish friend's relatives dies, they see a white dove!

Yes, non-Amish can go to Amish church. They will probably ignore you though.

"Happiness" is hard to quantify. However, the fact that Amish communities have managed to survive and prosper even in America, and the fact that more than 90% of the members remain within the faith (even when given the chance to leave) certainly indicates that the Amish feel good about their life and their faith. To many outsiders, life in an Amish community might seem very gendered and regimented, and such a life might not be everyone's choice; but for most Amish, they would not change a thing: it is what they believe and how they want to live.

Pads.

18th - 19th Century western culture mixed with fundamentalist Christian beliefs. They are very plain people who are pacifists and closed to people outside the Amish culture.

Yes, they go to doctors and get help wherever they can.

The Amish are not members of the church at birth. They're not permitted to join the church until they're adults. There's a period before this decision in made, known as Rumspringa. During this time, they can work in the secular world, move out, buy and drive cars, etc. Some have joined the military during this time, although it's rather rare to see.

If they do four years, get out, then decide to join the church, their past isn't held against them. If they decide not to join the church, they're free to make that choice without shunning.

Now if they make the decision to join the church, then have a change of heart and leave, they'll be subject to shunning.

I wouldn't exactly call what the amish wear "uniforms." It is a sort of dress code, though. Each Amish community has a kind of rulebook called an Ordnung which dictates much of Amish daily life. Ordnungs are different in each community. In some communities, the Ordnung is as strict as to determine the type of thread used to stitch the clothing. When it comes to the clothing, only young children can wear more vibrant colors, like pink, depending on the community's Ordnung. When children get older the girls have to wear bonnets that their hair (in a bun) is "tucked" into. Women always wear dresses, and I believe they also wear aprons most of the time. Men wear pants and long sleeved shirts (depending on weather?) with suspenders. Men often wear hats, as most farmers wear. Married men grow beards. Women don't shave legs. The list goes on and on. If you want to learn more you can look up an Amish documentary on Netflix- more interesting than it sounds.

Unfortunately, yes. Amish women tend to do the same things women did in the ancient times. In other words, Amish women usually run the household, while the men take care of the farm.

Thereare different kinds of buggies. In Allen ounty, Indiana, buggies are all wood and donot have tops, despite winter temperatures that hit -20F at least one day a year, New ones probably run $4,000 or so.

Most common buggues in Lancaster Co.rounty, Pennsylvania are - relaruvely - fancy, with lighting installed and fibreglas tops, despite mild weather - more often than not, temps never drop below zero in the winter. These buggies approach $5,000. In the north part of the county, near Martindale. one occasionally sees a buggy built with a chassis of chrome treaplate. Obviously, that wouldn't be approved by all the flavors of the Amish, but they probably cost $7,000.

Used buggies typically sell for $500 to $1000.

Prices would be higher if the buggy was being sold to non-plain.

The Amish community follows strict guidelines outlined in the Ordnung, which may vary among different sects. Generally, the Amish believe in simplicity and modesty, which can extend to grooming practices. While there is no specific rule regarding pubic hair grooming, many Amish women choose not to shave or remove body hair as a personal choice based on their interpretation of modesty and tradition within their community.

The last estimation was around 300,000 in USA, but this is just a rough approximation,

Amish people do get birth certificates and get death certificates, but they move around allot between countries, and it becomes hard to say actual numbers in the USA.

The Amish are pretty hard-core Bible-believers and followers, but sometimes they get things mixed up. One of the passages in the Bible states that one should have no graven images, statutes, or idols for worship. The Amish took this rule to the extreme and believe that having your picture taken, painting, sculpturing, or sketching is an abomination to God because each is some type of image of people, nature, or whatever. So, whenever you're in Amishland, don't try to take a picture of the Amish people you see, or let them see your camera; they'll turn away from you and not speak to you in fear that you'll try to take their picture by surprise. They really hate the media.

According to Wikipedia, there are several European migrant nationalities represented by 'Amish'.

German, Dutch, and Swiss, apparently are represented in the different sects. Particularly, "The history of the Amish church began with a schism in Switzerland within a group of Swiss and Alsatian Anabaptists in 1693 led by Jakob Ammann. Those who followed Ammann became known as Amish."

All the American Amish, however, are today considered Americans.

Amish people generally live in settlements far away from large towns, so that they might enjoy their simple lifestyle in peace. The highest concentration of Amish people is in Ohio, followed shortly by Pennsylvania and Indiana.

They don't because they think their hair is a gift from god.

They study Amish culture and regular school subjects.

No.

It's typically two to four times a year, rather than at every worship service.

It's very similar to what Martin Luther would have offered his parishioners. Most Amish congregations use the Ausband. a book published in the 1700s in what was then high German.

Foot washing would normally be included, and only members of the church, not children, are offered the Eucharist.

Mennonites can play musical instruments, but do not use them in worship. Many also discourage performance-oriented use of instruments to avoid focus on the self. They excel at a capella singing.

A firm handshake.

It's not by her wedding ring. The Amish don't wear jewelry.

You may assume that any Amish woman past the age of 21 is either married or a widow. If you really want to know, you could take the step of asking her. Most Amish women are proud of their families, and will talk of them to any friendly and respectful person..

Of course yes, I do not know the numbers.

There were some there, before Elmo Stoll a post Amish elder, tried to start his own communal community, which has been parceled out after his death.

I believe two smaller splinter communities, of Elmo Stoll's still survive.

I know there are Amish communities in Kentucky, very near the border of Tennessee as well.

Amish have limited set of clothes, so new clothes are good clothes, as good clothes get worn they become their work clothes.

-

So Amish do not have pair clothes, in general just for church services, weddings, and funerals.

-

What they use is their newest clothes, sparingly at first, for special occasions.

-

But even these good clothes, get worn and have to be replaced, with newly made or purchased clothing.

-

Clothes that are white, are primarily used for special occasions, as they dirty to fast for work.

-

Very few clothes are owned just for special occasions, as this is prideful, but it does happen.

The preferred way to drive the Amish buggy is "tickle their feet."