When it comes to folk culture in the United States, it may be hard to find examples. The urban life that dominates the United States leaves little room for folk culture to grow, develop, and endure in the country. You may find some cases in the rural regions of the Midwest but the connections people have with social media and the internet leads to the death of many traditional cultures. One of the only groups we could talk about is the Native American cultures present in the United States. However, there is another group we can talk about that stands out from other folk cultures. While the Native Americans are able to resist the spread of popular culture through their Indian reservations that protect their way of life, another group willingly dedicate themselves to refrain from the use of modern technology to protect their lifestyle. This small group in the East is known as the Amish.
The Amish are the descendants of a religious group called the Anabaptists in Switzerland. They migrated to the American colonies to escape religious persecution and economic opportunity. Eventually a schism erupted in the 19th century between the Old Orders and the Amish Mennonites. The Old Orders are the Amish that we know today. They are a more conservative group who wish to retain their traditional practices. Many further divisions occurred during the 20th century for social, economic, and religious reasons. Despite these setbacks, the Old Orders managed to continue existing as the history of the United States progressed into the 21st century.
The Amish today do not use cars or phones. They do not use tractors or other machines in their farming either. They strictly use tools and things that can be made by hand. As you drive by Pennsylvania, you may encounter horse-drawn wagons and buggies on the road. Their traditional clothing and cuisine is known for its simplicity. They speak Pennsylvania Dutch which is a dialect of German with Swiss influences. They are known for having very large families unlike the small families of 2-3 children we are accustomed to. They intermarry in their small communites to avoid foreign influence and conserve traditional practices. One of their customs is letting a grown child spend some time in the modern world. If they wish, they may stay in the modern world and they can return and dedicate themselves to the lives of the Amish. They of course attend church frequently. My family dog, Grant, was from an Amish family. We had the opportunity to catch a glimpse of their culture and way of life. We were amazed that their little boy could not speak English at all. While many folk cultures are able to thrive due to isolation, the Amish make an effort to resist the influences of the modern world to protect their traditional values.
-Antonin Ducroux-USA (East Coast)