What comes to mind when thinking of Lancaster County? Well, the Amish, of course! Lancaster County is home to the oldest Amish settlement in North America. Their clothing, culture, horse driven buggies have remained a huge curiosity for visitors to Lancaster and is the basis for the great tourism industry here.
It is hard to imagine traveling on our busy roads with a horse drawn buggy as an 18 wheeler dangerously passes at extremely high speeds, yet our Amish neighbors experience it daily. It is hard to imagine not having the convenience of flipping on light switches or plugging in our machines that make life easier, but our Amish neighbors seem to be able to live without these basic amenities. We simply cannot fathom the life that the Amish have chosen to live out daily. Lancaster County invites you to learn about our Amish neighbors so that an appreciation and respect for their way of life can be thoughtfully observed. Here are some common questions:
The Amish primarily travel by horse drawn buggies, but often walk or ride foot powered scooters. Longer distances or errands for large purchases require the hire of ‘amish drivers’ who are licensed as such in Pennsylvania. The Amish do not have a driver’s license, but have a Horse and Buggy Driver’s Manual. There are rules in Pennsylvania for Safe Driving in Amish Country.
The Amish children go to school through 8th grade in their own 1 room school houses. Upon completion, the young adults continue working on their farms and/or seek employment through trade apprenticeships.
No, they are peaceful objectors and don’t believe in any violence.
Yes, weddings and school programs mostly, but you must be invited!
Until recently, the Amish could only have a regular telephone in an outbuilding on their property. Nowadays, Amish have phones with answering machines and cell phones, too.
Most use battery operated, lamp oil lights, and propane powered lights.
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