The Amish are an old group, with very old traditions. They first came to America in the early 18th century, and many aspects of that period are preserved in their traditions, like in a sort of living time capsule. One of the most distinct - and instantly recognizable - of these traditions is the Amish beard.

Amish men wear a beard for all sorts of reasons - some rooted in religion, others in tradition - but they all shave their mustaches. The reason for that may surprise you: the Amish are pacifists, and when their movement was just starting out, mustaches were heavily linked with a "military" look, favored by officers and soldiers. To distinguish themselves from these military men, the Amish decided to shave their mustaches off - and while today, military men prefer a clean-shaven look, the tradition has stuck!

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