Amish Mafia

Despite what TV networks want you to believe, there is no Amish Mafia.

Aside from the crazy sect that went rampant a few years back cutting off dissenters beards, the Amish community is very much low key.

The Amish have changed very little in the past 300 years, but recently modern technology has found its way into some of the families.

Growing up in close vicinity to one of the largest Amish communities in the world has given me an interesting perspective. Add that to the fact my grandparents were Amish and left during their teenage years and I have a pretty good understanding of the way they function. And let me tell you, none of them are the same.

Just like politics and other religions there are more conservative and more liberal Amish. The most conservative are commonly called "Swartzentruber" Amish while the most liberal are called "New Order" Amish.

The Swartzentruber Amish are very strict with their beliefs. So much so that they risk safety while traveling. While traveling by horse and buggy the majority of Amish utilize reflective tape and flashing lights to warn drivers of a slow moving vehicle. The Swartzentruber Amish use only lanterns to light their buggy, making it difficult for drivers to see.

Some of the more liberal Amish take their lighting to the extreme. You would almost think they came straight from pump my ride with buggies equipped with underglow and serious sound systems.

When it comes to communication a good majority of Amish now have cell phones. You will still see some of the more conservative Amish with a phone shanty at the edge of their property, as they are not allowed to have phones in their house.

The Amish still live without electricity and the majority of them still live off the land through agriculture and raising livestock. As the population continues to grow families tend to group up in multi family communities all managing the same farm. Some Amish are working away from the home, working mainly in construction and manual labor positions.

It is an all too real occurrence that the Swartzentruber Amish tend to smell terribly. Rumor has it they bath only once per week and the whole family shares the bath water, with the oldest going first.

It is no misconception that the Amish are great builders. One of the great sights in Holmes county is the infamous barn raising. When one family needs a barn for their farming needs the entire community gets together and raises a barn in a single day. Working from sun up to sun down, every person in the family has a role to play. The experienced men lead by example doing the brunt of the labor, the younger men run supplies, and the women and children prepare the meals. It is truly a sight to see.

I hope you enjoyed this inside look at the current Amish community! If you have any questions please ask in the comments and I'll do my best to answer as quickly and accurately as possible.