Why do Amish women wear bonnets?
The bonnet as a head covering for women is a relatively new fashion, coming into being around the end of the 18th century, according to the Amish Furniture Home website. Most but not all American Amish women wear bonnets.Head CoveringIn their native home in Germany, Amish women wore flat hats made of straw in the summer and of felt in the winter, to protect them from the sun as they were working in the fields, according to the Amish Country News website.Quaker BonnetsAmerican Amish women possibly borrowed the head covering from Pennsylvania Quaker women, who adopted the fashion from England around 1800.ControversyAt first, the Amish viewed the wearing of bonnets as worldly, vain and indicative of pride. But gradually, their use became accepted by most Amish communities.ExceptionsOne Old Amish sect, the Nebraska Amish of Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, does not sanction the wearing of bonnets. The women instead wear black kerchiefs and flat straw hats.Communicate Marital StatusAn Amish fe
