The Amish are a a community of traditionalist Christian church groups recognized for their distinctly conservative lifestyle. Living according to their interpretation of God’s teachings, Amish men are known for their long beards.
In the modern world, bearded men are widespread. However, unlike those who grow beards for fashion, an Amish man’s beard will always include a shaved upper lip, a choice linked to their stance on the military.
The Amish share similarities with Mennonite churches but have distinct practices and traditions compared to other Christian groups. The practice of growing a beard is rooted in honoring the Bible. In the era of the religious text—long before the invention of Gillette razors—most men had full beards. Devout Amish men honor this tradition by growing their own beards as well.
Nevertheless, only married men are permitted to stop shaving, so it’s not as straightforward as simply forgoing it altogether. Growing a beard is a signal to others that the individual has reached manhood. However, they do maintain a clean-shaven mustache.
Leviticus 19:27 – “Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt though mar the corners of thy beard” – is a core belief of the Amish. Another is pacifism.
The Amish adhere to a principle of non-resistance, which aligns with pacifism. This involves not resisting authority under any circumstances, even if they perceive it as unjust. While this principle typically applies to their everyday activities, engaging in war would be seen as a form of resistance for the Amish, leading them to abstain from any form of military service.
Therefore, the mustache must go.
Why is that so? While mustaches are a fashion statement today, they used to symbolize military service. Facial hair has often been linked to war and the strength of soldiers, especially in parts of the world where beards and mustaches are viewed as more masculine. Even now, soldiers in some regions wear facial hair to command respect.
For example, the British Empire were big fans of the mustache, going so far as to make it mandatory for soldiers at one point in history. This unique requirement remained in place until World War I, when properly maintaining a mustache was not only a low priority, but often impossible in the harsh conditions of the trenches.
Furthermore, the appearance of gas on battlefields sparked fears that facial hair would prevent a gas mask from completely sealing against the skin. As such, the requirement was dropped in October 1916.
With such strong ties to war history, the Amish choose to not sport mustaches in rejection of military service. This allows them to continue growing their beards while avoiding any association with the military.
Want to become a trivia master? Sign up for our Today In History newsletter!
It helps let others know who’s married, too.