Amish Culture FAQ: Rumspringa
Editor’s Note: The following post is the latest segment in our series of “Frequently Asked Questions about the Amish”. Through a series of regular postings, we will address many of the questions asked by customers, bloggers, emailers and Tweeters concerning Amish traditions and culture. The quality and beauty of the furniture we sell in at Amish Tables in Ann Arbor, MI finds its roots in many of the traditions and practices of Amish culture.
Thank you for joining us in this discussion. As always, please email your questions on Amish traditions and practices to Casey at Casey@AmishTables.com.
Rumspringa is period in a young Amish person’s life that has been greatly misrepresented in the media. Contrary to depictions shown on TV or on the front of magazines, Amish parents do not push their children into the English world for exposure to sex, drugs, and modern technology.
It is also not a time in a young Amish person’s life when he or she must decide to live the Amish life. In truth, Rumspringa is not as exciting as the movies make it out to be. However, it is a vital period in the Amish teen’s life.
Socializing
Rumspringa begins at age 16 and lasts until the young person marries. It is a period of socialization, when the young men and women get together, date, and get to know one another in order to find a mate. Socializing is not done at parties in the modern world that include drugs and alcohol. They are more along the lines of card games, singing, and enjoying one another’s company.
Courtship
It is common and expected that Amish teens engage in courtship activities when finding a mate. Unlike courtship in the English society, Amish courtship is kept modest. The young men lead the family to believe that he is going out for a business purpose, while the young woman slips out of the house as soon as her parents turn in. The couple stays out until the early morning hours, from Saturday into Sunday. Unlike the media version depiction of Rumspringa, courtship takes place within the community and under the veil of night.
Exploring
Some Amish youth do try worldly things like radios, clothing, or some types of entertainment like a movie. However, these dalliances are done in secret and by young men and women who are not baptized into the church. The extent of the exploration is also determined by the Ordnung, set of rules for Amish and Old Order Mennonite living.
More liberal Amish communities may produce youth who experiment more during Rumspringa than others. The majority are conservative in Rumspringa and stick close to their community’s rules.
Hopefully, this clears up some of your confusion about rumspringa. It is merely a passage into adulthood and marriage, not a wild oats sowing period. Unfortunately, until more is learned about the Amish culture, the prevailing image of Rumspringa will outshine the innocent reality.
Tags: Adolescence, Amish, Amish Culture, Courtship, culture, Family, Religion, rumspringa, Socializing, Teenager, Traditions
