The Amish Beard: 10 Things You Didn’t Know
There’s a lot we don’t know about the Amish. Most of us, anyway. They are a quiet, peaceful people who largely keep to themselves. They live a simple life, committed to raising families and working the land, with not so much as an electric light in sight.
Their culture centers around living in accordance with the Bible, adhering as strictly to God’s word as they can. It’s relatively easy to spot them in a crowd with their old-fashioned, humble dress and each married man sporting a long, flowing beard with no mustache.
An Amish beard is a unique look, and rather striking, standing out in most crowds. When you see one, the curiosity always strikes. Why don’t Amish men grow a mustache and why do they all have long, full beards on display?
10 Interesting Facts About Amish Beards
Believe it or not, there is a lot to these beards. A lot of thought has gone into this style of facial hair, and Amish men are sticklers for having it just right.
Their whiskers stand for a number of things and are part of an Amish man’s way of expressing his position on several things.
Let’s take a closer look at Amish beards. Here are 10 things you didn’t know:
#1: A mustache is forbidden in Amish culture
That’s right, this isn’t just a popular style. It is forbidden to wear a mustache for several of the reasons listed below. Amish men are to shave their upper lip and surrounding area until it’s down to the wood, as they say.
#2: Amish wear their beards in adherence to God’s word
From the book of Leviticus 19:27, the Bible says, “Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard” and the Amish interpret this literally. They believe they have been commanded to wear a beard in manhood by God.
#3: It represents humility
Part of the reason why Amish men grow a beard is to prove that they have humbled themselves in servitude of their God by following his word.
An Amish beard an outward symbol of their adherence to scripture and its literal interpretation and therefore, their own knowledge that they are but mere mortals living in God’s divine universe.
#4: An Amish beard represents manhood
As is the case in many cultures all over the world, the beard represents manhood to the Amish. At a glance, the Amish people can tell the men from the boys by their beards.
#5: Their beard separates them from the military
The Amish beard was thought up and the Amish began strictly adhering to it during times when growing and styling unique and eye-catching mustaches was on trend, especially for the military.
British troops, in particular, were required to sport some form of mustache. This policy ended in 1916 when soldiers suddenly needed to be able to create a seal with their gas masks, but the Amish kept their facial hair traditions.
#6: An Amish beard represents pacifism
The Amish wanted to separate themselves from the military because they’re known pacifists and never wanted to be mistaken for anyone who might wage war in any form.
#7: An Amish beard differentiates them from everyone else
The Amish beard style is different and it stands out from everyone else. For the most part, the Amish people like to differentiate themselves from the rest of the world.
#8: Amish men stop shaving their beard when they get married
From their wedding day forward, an Amish man is not to shave his beard, signifying manhood and his commitment to his marriage.
#9: The beard is worn in place of a wedding ring
The Amish don’t think much of material things and wedding rings are no exception. Instead, the beard is the telltale sign that an Amish man is married.
#10: If an Amish man has trouble growing a beard, it’s not a problem.
The important part, after he is married, is that he doesn’t shave it, not that he has a full and long, flowing beard.
Final Notes on the Amish Beard Tradition
The Amish style of beard is important to our Pennsylvania Dutch neighbors, and is deeply religious in its roots.
An outward sign of manhood, humility and commitment to peace and their marriage, this beard can tell you a lot about the man sporting it. The Amish people are kind, hardworking pacifists and we kinda dig their style.
Whether you’ve got an Amish style beard or just stubble, you’ll definitely want to subscribe to our newsletter for more beards in history.
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