Random Surprising Rumspringa Facts About Amish Tradition Of Rumspringa (19 items)

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  (#11) Rumspringa Is Meant to Make Teens Want to Stay in the Community

  Most of the world views rumspringa as an excuse for Amish teens to cut loose, but inside the community, it's seen as a way for people to explore their faith. Some Amish view rumspringa as a vaccination against the outside world, while others see it as a test. 

  "Rumspringa is, in my words, a test of faith, but not necessarily a test to be failed or passed," according to one Amish source. "Then again, I may feel that way (that it is not to be failed or passed) because in the opinion of most Amish folks, I would have failed that test, but my beliefs are still strong."
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  (#9) Amish Kids Love Beer as Much as Non-Amish Kids

  An NPR dissection of the Amish party ceremony continually notes how much beer the kids drink. Picture in your mind's eye, "A used-car-lot inventory of cars, trucks, buggies, bicycles, and motorcycles is already parked here. Iced coolers of beer are put out; Amish teenagers reach for bottles with both hands."

  With such a selection, the favorite is clear: "Beer is the liquid of choice, but there are also bottles of rum and vodka, used to spike soft drinks."
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  (#10) Some Kids Use Rumspringa for Formal Education

  Even though most reports focus on Amish teens going wild on rumspringa, a lot of youngsters use it as an opportunity for education. Traditionally, the Amish only go to school through eighth grade because they feel that young people should instead cultivate their basic work skills in order to make a living. Lena, an Amish teen, earned her GED while wearing jeans and a t-shirt under her dress and bonnet.
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  (#1) How Long Does Rumspringa Last?

  There are differing reports on the actual length of rumspringa, with some reports saying it lasts one to two years, and others saying it lasts as long as an Amish teen chooses. Which, if true, means that it's possible for rumspringa to act as a kind of endless summer for some members of the Amish community.
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  (#20) Teens Are Afraid of Dying While on Rumspringa

  In a theological technicality that probably helps keep teens away from dabbling in truly reckless behavior, dying on rumspringa means a one-way ticket to hell. In a strict religious culture, this can be a powerful incentive to return to the fold.
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  (#19) They Have to Adjust to Food

  An ex-Amish man who left his family after rumspringa and enrolled in Columbia University noted that when his brother (who's still in the family) came to visit him in New York City he barely ate anything because it was all so overwhelming.

  "The family would do home-cooked meals, and often the same meat and potatoes and bread. Beets," the former-Amish man explains. "There might be a few people who use a soy sauce or a barbeque sauce. There are very little fried foods, other than donuts, maybe." 

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