{"id":142,"date":"2013-06-25T16:16:42","date_gmt":"2013-06-25T16:16:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/groups.etown.edu\/amishstudies\/?page_id=142"},"modified":"2025-04-16T16:28:20","modified_gmt":"2025-04-16T20:28:20","slug":"rumspringa","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/groups.etown.edu\/amishstudies\/cultural-practices\/rumspringa\/","title":{"rendered":"Rumspringa"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\" \"\" \"\"In many communities, Rumspringa<\/em> is a period when some Amish youth, boys more than girls, experience greater freedom. They are no longer under the control of their parents on weekends and, because they are not baptized, they are not yet under the authority of the church. During this time, many Amish youth adhere to traditional Amish behavior. Others experiment with \u201cworldly\u201d activities\u2014buying a car, going to movies, wearing non-Amish clothes, buying a television. In larger Amish settlements, an adolescent\u2019s behavior often depends on the peer group he or she chooses to join. Amish parents may worry about which group their child will join because the choice will influence the teen\u2019s behavior.<\/p>\n

Traditional youth activities include volleyball, swimming, ice skating, picnics, hiking, and large outdoor \u201csupper\u201d parties. The most typical gatherings are \u201csingings.\u201d Groups meet in a home and sing German hymns and English gospel songs for several hours and then enjoy a time of conversation and food. The more rebellious groups sometimes drive cars, rent buildings for parties, or go to bars and nightclubs in nearby towns.<\/p>\n

A fling with worldliness reminds Amish youth that they have a choice regarding church membership; however, most of the forces of Amish life funnel them toward church membership. Knowing they have a choice likely strengthens their willingness to obey church standards and, in the long run, the authority of the church itself.<\/p>\n

The practice of Rumspringa<\/em> varies greatly from community to community. Some church districts provide adult supervision, but others do not. Rumspringa <\/em>as a wild rebellious experience is virtually unknown in some smaller settlements and in certain affiliations. In fact, the practice is\u00a0suppressed among some Amish subgroups, including many New Order groups.<\/p>\n

Additional information<\/h4>\n