Why do the Amish women wear head coverings? You may have noticed that Amish and Mennonite women all wear a covering of some sort on their heads. Why do they do this, and what does it represent?
I grew up Amish and wore a prayer covering on my head until I was in my thirties. So I will try to answer your questions about this practice among the Amish and Mennonites.
History of Women's Head Covering
I have never studied the history of the Amish prayer covering, and I don't know exactly when this practice began? But I found an article on this subject which I found to be interesting, and I'm leaving a link here in case you are interested in reading it.
A head covering or hat for women seems to have been a cultural thing in numerous countries for many years. And the Amish and Mennonites originate from the Anabaptist movement in Europe that began in the 16th century. So wearing a head covering was probably a part of the culture that they originated from.
Amish Prayer Covering
Growing up in the Amish church, I was taught that wearing a head covering is a Scriptural command. First Corinthians 11 has several verses that address this issue:
Verse 4.Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. 5.But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. 6.For if the woman is not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it is a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. 7.For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.
Verse 10.For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.
Verse 13.Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman prays unto God uncovered? 14.Doth not even nature itself teach you, that if a man has long hair, it is a shame unto him? 15.But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. 16.But if any man seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
I left out a few verses from this passage that you can find in your Bible. But these are the verses in the Bible that address the head covering.
Amish Traditions (Hats and Bonnets)
The Amish people try to obey every command in the Bible and they take them literally. Although, I will say that there are some commands in the Bible that they completely overlook because they are not included in their traditions.
But this Scripture passage is why they believe that every woman must have her head covered to pray. You may ask, "Why does she have to wear a head covering all the time and not only when she's praying?" Their answer would be that a person must always be ready to pray.
So then you may ask, "Why do Amish men wear hats then if they are supposed to be uncovered to pray? Should they not also be ready to pray at any moment?" This is one example where their rules are not consistent. Because technically, a man should never wear a hat if they want to be consistent in following this Scripture.
But the Amish people are often more concerned with keeping the traditions than they are in actually figuring out what God wants them to do. There are many things that they do simply because that's how they have always done it.
Prayer Coverings or Bonnets?
Many people mistakenly call the prayer covering a bonnet. There's a difference. The prayer covering (Kapp) is the head covering that's pinned onto the woman's hair. Amish women wear this all day long, taking it off only to wash and comb their hair. (Remember they must always be ready to pray.)
And they usually wear something on their head at night as well. Some may wear an old covering that they don't care if it gets smushed and wrinkly. But we used to wear a big handkerchief or a veil made out of fabric.
The bonnet, however, is usually black and is worn as an outer covering. In our church, it was worn only in the wintertime to help keep our heads warm. But some of the stricter Amish women have to wear it anytime they leave home.
Should Women Cover Their Heads?
The women's head covering is one of the most important doctrines in the Amish and Mennonite churches. And I was taught very strictly that a woman MUST have her head covered to pray. I honestly felt like God would not hear me if I did not have my head covered. And I thought that I might go to hell if I didn't wear a covering.
We knew that other Christian women in the world did not wear head coverings. So the question arose, "Will they go to heaven?" The answer to that question was, "They can probably get to heaven without it because they were not taught like we were." But for us to not cover our heads would be a sin, since we know better.
But, in answer to the question, "Should women wear a head covering?" I will never say that it's wrong for a woman to wear a prayer veil. And if you feel convicted by God to wear a covering, go ahead and wear one. But I have concluded that making a doctrine and law out of this issue is wrong. And if you believe that wearing a head covering is a salvation issue and will help you get to heaven, you are very wrong.
I don't claim to know exactly what Paul was trying to say in this passage to the Corinthians, but I honestly believe that it was a cultural issue.
My Experience with the Head Covering
As I've stated, I was taught very strictly on this issue of the prayer covering. It was ingrained into my very being that this is something I MUST do. But after listening to one pastor, I concluded that the head covering needs to be worn, with my head covered completely, only while praying or prophesying in a public assembly. And the church we attended at the time started practicing it like this.
But after we completely left the Mennonite church, and I was the only woman in church wearing a head covering, I began questioning this passage very deeply. I went to church with some very Godly women who didn't cover their heads. And it hounded me daily, "What does God want me to do?? Why is this passage of Scripture in the Bible, and what does it mean?"
I battled over this Scripture for many weeks and couldn't seem to come to a conclusion as to what this Scripture was saying. Is long hair considered to be our covering? Is Scripture saying that we should wear a covering over our long hair? Or was Paul addressing a cultural issue that doesn't necessarily apply to us today?
I kept seeking God about the issue and finally came to a place where I felt like He was telling me to let it go. I felt like it wasn't a big deal to God, whether I cover my head or not. He kept bringing the verse to my mind, "Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." And I found so much freedom and rest in Christ when I quit trusting in works to make me holy.
Reasons Why Amish Women Wear A Prayer Covering
The Amish and Mennonites believe that it is a Biblical command for women to cover their heads while praying. And we must always be ready to pray, therefore they wear a prayer covering all the time.
They believe that a woman having her head covered is a sign that she is in submission to her husband. For unmarried girls, it's a sign of submission to her father.
They believe that a woman with her head covered has extra protection. She has power on her head because of the angels (meaning she has extra protection from the angels).
Different Types of Amish Hair Coverings
Even though Amish and Mennonite women all wear head coverings, there are many different styles and sizes. Each church has its own rules on what type of head covering the women must wear. And many times you can tell how strict or plain a church is by the size or style of the women's head covering.
Most of the Amish women wear similar straight-sided box style coverings, except the Lancaster County Amish (and maybe a few churches that branched out from there and kept the same dress style). The Lancaster County Amish have a unique dress and head covering style that is different than most of the others.
I'm not sure why they have a different style? But I grew up wearing the Lancaster County heart-shaped head covering, and I hated it.
If you enjoyed this article about the prayer covering, perhaps you would like to read more info about the Amish...
Difference Between the Amish and Mennonites , Do the Amish Pay Taxes? , Amish Wedding Customs and Traditions , A Day in the Life of an Amish Woman , Growing Up on an Amish Farm as an Amish Child , Amish Food - Traditional Amish recipes , My Testimony of Leaving the Amish
(Affiliate link) Doctrines of the Bible - by Daniel Kauffman includes discussion on the women's head covering along with other Doctrines that the Amish and Mennonites teach.
The Amish and Mennonites believe that it is a Biblical command for women to cover their heads while praying. And we must always be ready to pray, therefore they wear a prayer covering all the time. They believe that a woman having her head covered is a sign that she is in submission to her husband.
A woman, by covering her head symbolizes her submission, and for centuries she has done so. More recently, it has been practiced by many Christian women only when attending church. Gradually the practice has been lost by all but a few churches. It is still worn by the Amish, and by many Mennonites and Brethren.
Because almost every other tradition of marriage somehow includes rings or other ornamental accessories, the Amish needed a way to show that two people were wed in their communities. Without rings, they turned to the easy options at their fingertips. Men grew beards, and women wore white head coverings — or bonnets.
A kapp (/kɒp/) is a Christian headcovering worn by many women of certain Anabaptist Christian traditions (especially among Mennonites, Amish, Schwarzenau Brethren and River Brethren), as well as certain Conservative Friends, in obedience to Paul the Apostle's command in 1 Corinthians 11:2–10.
According to the Schwartzentruber Amish Ordinance Letter, Amish women are not permitted to shave their legs or underarms. Amish ordinances also forbid women from cutting their hair.
Buttons are frowned upon because of their potential for ostentation, and such things as Velcro and zippers are banned. Instead, clothes are fastened by pins or hook-and-eye closures. Slightly smarter clothes, such as capes, are used for religious services.
Each person sleeps on their side of the bed, with a board in between them to prevent any physical contact. The couple is allowed to talk to each other during the night, but they're not allowed to touch each other.
Amish women do not cut their hair and Amish men do not cut their beards after marriage for biblical reasons. “In the Amish faith a man's beard and a women's hair are sacred religious symbols,” Bridget M. Brennan, an assistant U.S. attorney, said in her opening statement.
Birth control and abortion are forbidden by religious doctrine, even when pregnancy is life threatening. The Amish church has no rule against immunization, but only 16-26% of Amish children have received immunizations against the common childhood diseases.
The Amish wedding night will usually be spent in the bride's parent's home, as the couple will need to assist in clean up the following day. They will then spend their first months of marriage – their honeymoon – visiting relatives. (This is when most gifts they receive will be given.)
Children also wear hats, head coverings, or veils at a young age, especially girls. They are also dressed like their adult counterparts as early as four years of age. They teach the culture and values of the Amish as they grow up in the community.
Children are acculturated to the wearing of the veil from a very young age. At about age four, children begin dressing just like their adult counterparts, including the head covering. From age 14 until married, however, girls will wear a black prayer cap during Sunday service.
Summary: The Amish typically have their teeth pulled out by unlicensed dentists instead of incurring the high cost of dentistry. They perceive dentures as more cost effective and easier to maintain oral health.
It states that having a beard shows you are a man of God. The Amish communities acknowledge this fact by allowing married men to grow their beards out. Until a man is married, however, he cannot grow his beard out without shaving. This is a rule that most Amish communities live by practice in their day-to-day lives.
Amish women may shave their body hair if they choose to, although most don't. There's no rule against shaving any hair other than the beard hair of a married man. However, the Amish are admonished against any form of vanity. This is evident from their modest clothing, and lack of make-up or jewelry.
“People might wear a suit and some people might wear shorts and tops or whatever,” she said. “There's quite a bit of variety.” Also, Nolt said, young children are able to wear more modern swimwear, as they are not yet official members of the church.
Unmarried Amish choose their own husbands/wives, and the woman is very much involved in the process. Courtship often begins with a young man transporting a young woman to and from one of the many singings or Sunday worship.
Amish women are esteemed in Amish society for the contribution they make to home and community. They are mothers, managers of the household, and play an important role in maintaining communal ties.
Try purchasing common household items in bulk such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, toilet paper, flour, sugar, coffee and more. The more you make buying in bulk a habit, the more items you will end up finding available in bulk. Finances are a large focus of the Amish way of life.
At a time of turmoil and self-questioning, they devised the shearing of men's beards and women's long hair — symbols of Amish faith — as a way to repent their sins and start anew with God, according to interviews with Mr. Mullet, his daughter Wilma and other followers.
For working around the family farm, women typically wear a gray apron. A woman's cape and apron is fastened with straight pins at the waist, in the front of their dress, to attach the two together.
The use of a mirror is allowed because unlike a picture, it is not a graven image. Women use mirrors to do their hair and men use mirrors to shave. If you take our guided farmhouse tour, you'll spot a few mirrors in the house.
If Amish church members break their vows of baptism by disobeying religious leaders or church regulations and refuse to confess their error, they will face excommunication. Based on several biblical scriptures, the church shuns ex-members to remind them of their disobedience in hopes of winning them back.
Dating among the Amish typically begins around age 16 with most Amish couples marrying between the ages of 20 and 22. To find a prospective date, the young adults socialize at functions such as frolics, church, or home visits. One of the most popular activities is the Sunday night singing.
Joinery, which is the making of wooden joints, is fundamental in carpentry. Joinery techniques were perfected hundreds of years ago, and haven't changed much since then. Amish joinery techniques create sturdy solid wood furniture built to last for generations. Not using nails also reduces the need for power tools.
Marriage between Amish and outsiders is rare. That's because it's not allowed by Amish Law. However, should an outsider decide to convert to the Amish faith and get baptized, they'll be accepted as a member of the Amish community. They'll then be allowed to marry an Amish person.
In the Amish community, divorce is forbidden and not sanctioned in the Amish church. If a member of the community violates this, they are violating their vows that they took during their Amish baptism, which takes place between the ages of 18 and 22 years old, according to National Geographic.
The Amish religion does not restrict people from seeking modern medical care. For the most part, Amish use local doctors and dentists and will go to specialists and hospitals as determined.
Sometimes referred to as "bundling," couples sleep together in the same bed all night fully clothed. Following the Amish rules known as Ordnung, the young couple is to lie beside each other for the duration of the night talking and being sure not to touch.
Since morning comes early, most Amish families are in bed by 8:30 – 9:00 pm. Rest and getting adequate sleep is imperative for the Amish since much of their day is spent doing manual labor.
Traditionally, Amish weddings are held in late fall after harvest time, in November or December. In some communities, Amish weddings are celebrated in the spring since there are so many there would not be enough days to host them if they were all held in the fall.
They're encouraged to experiment and explore. The idea is that teens will come back to the church after tasting the modern world. For most, this means a tentative foray -- a trip to the local movie theater, or driving lessons. But for some, the experience, called rumspringa, is all about sex, parties and fast cars.
In Amish culture, baptism occurs when a person turns 18 and is viewed as an adult by the community. When an Amish individual reaches maturity, they are given the choice of whether to be baptized into the church or not; an option most of them take.
They didn't want anything to do with alcohol or tobacco, and both of these are strictly forbidden in the New Order Amish groups. And the same is true for the Beachy Amish/conservative Mennonites as well. They also have rules against alcohol and tobacco use.
Some of the victims are the parents of those accused. Amish women do not cut their hair and Amish men do not cut their beards after marriage for biblical reasons. “In the Amish faith a man's beard and a women's hair are sacred religious symbols,” Bridget M.
Black bonnets are worn by Amish women who are not yet married. If a single Amish woman wants to attend church, go out in town or just converse with some neighbors, she will usually place a black bonnet over her head to signify her relationship status.
The Amish bedroom rules contain what is known as bundling. This is the practice of sleeping in the same bed with someone of the opposite sex while fully clothed. Bundling is not considered sexual in nature. Rather, it's seen as a way to get to know someone better before marriage.
Birth control and abortion are forbidden by religious doctrine, even when pregnancy is life threatening. The Amish church has no rule against immunization, but only 16-26% of Amish children have received immunizations against the common childhood diseases.
As part of their Ordnung, Old Order Amish forbid owning automobiles; tapping electricity from public utility lines; owning televisions, radios, or personal computers; attending high school or college; joining the military; and initiating divorce. All Amish groups expect men and women to wear prescribed clothing.
In conclusion, the Amish have strict hair rules that are deeply rooted in their belief system. Amish women keep their hair long and never cut or style it, while men are allowed to keep their hair shorter but still must wear hats when outdoors.
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Introduction: My name is Maia Crooks Jr, I am a homely, joyous, shiny, successful, hilarious, thoughtful, joyous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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