Regional Traditions

[ZephyrHawk]

Recently, I started thinking about all the various traditions which are endemic to the area I was brought up in (Southeast Michigan), and which people in other parts of the country don't quite get. In particular, what got me thinking about it was packzi's. Yes, I know that other parts of the country celebrate Fat Tuesday with these delectable doughnuts, but in the Detroit area (which has a sizeable Polish population) they're something of a religion. Other things are the "Hustle", a popular wedding line dance. In this part of the country it's always danced to "My Eyes Don't Cry No More" (and not "The Hustle", which I admit would make more sense).

However, the most amusing from my point of view is how we treat the song "Don't Stop Believing". If you ever hear this song played near a bunch of Michiganders, you'll notice that we all shout out the line "Born and raised in South Detroit!" This is for two reasons. One, we see it as a shout-out to our heritage, and two because we know there is no south Detroit. Point of fact, the Detroit River bends so that immediately south of Detroit is Windsor, Ontario.

What are your regional traditions that the rest of the country may just not understand?

 

[Mickeypooh99]

I'm from West Michigan too so I can't point out any regional differences! But, I wanted to say that we love that song (Don't stop believing). It is one of the few songs that my boys (age 11 and 12) and I will sing together!

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

Texas here! Everyone is a ma'am or sir from my 2 year old daughter to my 86 year old grandfather. It is not a sign of disrespect and you are likely to get in much trouble if you are a child and do not use those terms.

At weddings, you will always have 2 cakes. The first is obviously the wedding cake, but you also have a second cake (often chocolate) which is call The Groom's Cake. It is usually a design that pertains to the groom such a a computer if he is an IT guy.

At baseball games, we always sing Deep In the Heart of Texas during the 7th inning stretch after Take Me Out to the Ballgame.

ETA: Almost forgot! "Barbecue" is a noun and never a verb If you are cooking hamburgers on a grill, you are having a cook-out or grilling. Barbecue refers to food and that food is almost always brisket. Mmmm!

 

[BearcatsFan]

Well, here in Cincinnati, we have "Cincinnati-style" chili. You cook up your hamburger until it's in tiny pieces, then add spices like cinnamon and nutmeg (and sometimes cocoa). Then you serve it over spaghetti with cheese (a three-way), and onion (a four-way) and/or beans (a five way). We have "chili parlors" like Skyline and Gold Star, among others.

We also get together for Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, which is the largest Oktoberfest celebration in the country. We drink lots of German beer, eat brats and kraut, and do the chicken dance.

 

[ashmarie06]

Well, here in Cincinnati, we have "Cincinnati-style" chili. You cook up your hamburger until it's in tiny pieces, then add spices like cinnamon and nutmeg (and sometimes cocoa). Then you serve it over spaghetti with cheese (a three-way), and onion (a four-way) and/or beans (a five way). We have "chili parlors" like Skyline and Gold Star, among others.

We also get together for Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, which is the largest Oktoberfest celebration in the country. We drink lots of German beer, eat brats and kraut, and do the chicken dance.

Don't forget Goetta, itallianfest in Newport, and my favorite-- riverfest!

 

[BearcatsFan]

Don't forget Goetta, itallianfest in Newport, and my favorite-- riverfest!

Ahh yes thank you Ashmarie - how could I forget Riverfest or Goettafest? I haven't been to Italianfest so I can't comment on that personally.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Texas here! Everyone is a ma'am or sir from my 2 year old daughter to my 86 year old grandfather. It is not a sign of disrespect and you are likely to get in much trouble if you are a child and do not use those terms.

Another Texan-now. When we moved here, I thought it was kind of funny that all female teachers are called "Miss" so-and-so, even if they're married. One of my sons had both the husband and wife for different subjects, yet she was still referred to as "Miss". When I taught adult ed, and often had students older than me, I told them to call me by my first name, yet they always called me "Miss" as a sign of respect.

 

[hops&dreams]

I'm originally from the Chicago area, and have moved to Indianapolis as an adult. Things I learned from the mere 2.5 hour away move:
Pizza - they serve pizza in Chicago. Here, they serve what they SAY is pizza, but it's dough with tomato sauce and cheese on top. Real pizza is from Chicago.
Pot luck - back home in Chicago, it's common to have a pot luck dinner as a get-together with friends. Each person/family brings a dish to share. That way there's not so much pressure on the hosts, etc. We did them for play groups, team end-of-season parties, work celebrations... Here, they call them pitch-ins, and they are a LOT less common. I think I've only heard of 2 that I didn't participate in organizing in my 5 years here!
soda - back home, people call it pop. I personally call it soda. We vacationed in Texas, and they called it "coke" even if it was a Mtn. Dew.


That's all I can think of for now, although I'm sure others will come to me as the day goes on.

 

[Minnesota!]

Twin Cities -

* we take our shoes off when we come into a house
* lots of hot dishes served (casserole to the rest of the country!)
* called pop, here
* our state fair is our pride and joy - it really is amazing!
* lutefisk

 

[IheartMickey]

I'm from a small italian neighborhood in Queens.

-We kiss everyone on the cheek when we meet new people or greet friends and family. Other than in the working atmosphere I've never shaken hands when meeting someone new. I went on a date with a guy from Kansas a few months ago and kissed him Hello on the cheek and he didn't know what to do. I now realize most people don't do this lol.

-Sunday dinners are very important and a way for the family to get together. It's always pasta, some meat and salad. Usually pastries to follow.

-We don't call it 'Italian food'. Eggplant parm and spaghetti is just every day food to us.

-We pronounce calamari as gah-Le-mauhd. Marinara is maht-tin-natta. Ricotta is ri-gawth. Everyone knows what you mean when you pronounce it that way. If you say it the way it is usually pronounced we assume you are either not italian or not from NY. It's not the same in Manhattan, if we're dining there we say it the regular way not to confuse waiters.

I'm trying to think of more.

 

[Family Fun Mom]

I'm from the Detroit area and until I was in my 20s I didn't realize "Devil's Night" is a regional thing.

The night before Halloween hooligans go out and toliet paper houses, egg houses, cause general trouble. In the suburbs it's not so bad, just teens making mischief, but in the actual city of Detroit it gets more serious with people setting fires to abandoned homes and other acts of vandalism.

When I was about 22 I lived in N.C. and asked a coworker if things got out of control on Devil's Night there. She had never heard of it and when I explained what it was the look of horror on her face was priceless

Good old Detroit. Home Sweet Home!

 

[Myothername]

Being from the south we are just drowning in traditions. The "Miss Jane" and "Mister John" thing is a given.

Coke is any fizzy drink as in "I'll have a hamburger." "You want a coke with that?" "Yes." "What kind of coke you want?" "Orange."

I have never heard of the donuts the OP mentioned we eat at Mardi Gras. We eat King Cake. If you get the baby you have to bring the King Cake the next day.

Gravy is served with just about everything at every meal.

Grits are a must at breakfast or with shrimp at supper.

And it is breakfast, dinner and supper.

Good manners. I can't tell you how many people from other places comment on our good manners. We were raised that way and pinched and swatted when we didn't show good manners.

Sweet tea, it is the house wine.

Confederate memorabilia, graveyards and monuments.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

Isoda - back home, people call it pop. I personally call it soda. We vacationed in Texas, and they called it "coke" even if it was a Mtn. Dew.

That's right! They're all "cokes."

At weddings, you will always have 2 cakes. The first is obviously the wedding cake, but you also have a second cake (often chocolate) which is call The Groom's Cake. It is usually a design that pertains to the groom such a a computer if he is an IT guy.

Didn't realize this was a regional thing.

I'm raised in Louisiana and now in Texas. I will add to the list--Football! You better check the schedules (especially college football) before planning any big events in the fall.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I love these threads.

In the Boston area, we have Jimmies. (Chocolate sprinkles on ice cream.)

We have the "T", which is the public transportation system.

Red Sox Nation extends to all of New England and beyond. You just have to be a Red Sox fan. "Love That Dirty Water (Boston You're My Home)!" We also play Sweet Caroline at games and everyone sings. ("Buh, buh, buh!")

"Spuckies" are a type of submarine sandwich.

We also like "Chowdah". Oh, and speaking of accents:

Bostonians have their own peculiar accent while speaking. They pronounce the consonant "r" as "ah". They pronounce the vowel "a" as "er" or "r". The most common examples of this are "car," which is pronounced as "cah" and "park" which is pronounced as "pahk". The name "Mark" will be pronounced as "Mahk". If you try mimicking the Bostonian accent in Boston, it will probably not please the locals.

Nor can it ever really be correctly portrayed in movies by non-natives, with few exceptions.

Driving in Boston is legendary.

To name a few.

 

[2disneyboys]

Being from the south we are just drowning in traditions. The "Miss Jane" and "Mister John" thing is a given.

Coke is any fizzy drink as in "I'll have a hamburger." "You want a coke with that?" "Yes." "What kind of coke you want?" "Orange."

I have never heard of the donuts the OP mentioned we eat at Mardi Gras. We eat King Cake. If you get the baby you have to bring the King Cake the next day.

Gravy is served with just about everything at every meal.

Grits are a must at breakfast or with shrimp at supper.

And it is breakfast, dinner and supper.

Good manners. I can't tell you how many people from other places comment on our good manners. We were raised that way and pinched and swatted when we didn't show good manners.

Sweet tea, it is the house wine.

Confederate memorabilia, graveyards and monuments.

Also from the south so I relate to alot of this... I'll add

if you ask for tea, it's gonna be sweet & cold. If you don't want it sweet or cold you have to specify as in do you have any Hot Tea or Unsweetened Tea.

"bless her/his heart" is usually an insult or accompanies some sort of judgmental gossip (not proud of this, but it's the truth)

Going "out back" could mean anything within a 10-20 mile radius

pot lucks (described by another poster up thread) are very common.

When you ask for pizza, you don't ask for Pepperoni & Cheese... the cheese is a given.. you just ask for pepperoni

BBQ/grilled IS a verb here... anthing grilled is BBQ'd.

 

[kimblebee]

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada is the home of the social. Oh man, so many people are about to be so offended.

A social is an event that is held before someone's wedding to help with costs. Tickets are $10. You also pay for your booze. There is a silent auction and a 'perfume' raffle as well. There is a dj for the whole evening and social food and coffee are provided, usually around 11 pm. Social food is cheeses, meats, pickles, and always, always rye bread.

It's always a hoot, unless you get stuck at a social with only 50 people or so. They are usually held in a community club so average attendance is 200 or so. You don't even have to know the people to go. You just have to know someone selling tickets. I've been to many friends of friends of coworkers socials. They are usually held in the winter which is good because we are sick of being holed up and are always ready for a party!

Waiting to be called tacky in 3..2..1..

 

[Shyvioletisme]

Texas here! Everyone is a ma'am or sir from my 2 year old daughter to my 86 year old grandfather. It is not a sign of disrespect and you are likely to get in much trouble if you are a child and do not use those terms.

At weddings, you will always have 2 cakes. The first is obviously the wedding cake, but you also have a second cake (often chocolate) which is call The Groom's Cake. It is usually a design that pertains to the groom such a a computer if he is an IT guy.

At baseball games, we always sing Deep In the Heart of Texas during the 7th inning stretch after Take Me Out to the Ballgame.

ETA: Almost forgot! "Barbecue" is a noun and never a verb If you are cooking hamburgers on a grill, you are having a cook-out or grilling. Barbecue refers to food and that food is almost always brisket. Mmmm!

yes to all of these.
Also, High School football is almost bigger than pro sports.
Here in Central Texas we know that kolaches are better than donuts.
Dr Pepper, the State Fair, Mrs. Baird's bread and Blue Bell ice cream are institutions. You can do no better than any of them.

 

[wilkeliza]

yes to all of these.
Also, High School football is almost bigger than pro sports.
Here in Central Texas we know that kolaches are better than donuts.

As a born and raised Texan (still miss it even though I live in NYC) I hope you mean real kolaches and not the terrible thing that Shipley's calls a kolache. I have German and Chez family members so we have real kolaches at every family gathering. Those sweet pasteries are such a part of our lives that when my mother died when I as 15 we drove almost an hour out of the way to share true kolaches together on that day because man they were her favorite.

Another Texas thing is "close" could mean as much as a 2 hour drive. I always laugh here in NYC when people say OMG Philly is so far away! It is seriously only a 90 minute long drive so "close" to the city in Texas terms. I lived in Houston and went to college in Marshal and would drive the 4 hours each way to go home on weekends. Now here in NYC my BF can't be bothered to go 45 minutes to go home or see friends or go shopping.

Over yander is a direction. It is usually said while pointing.

 

[Shyvioletisme]

As a born and raised Texan (still miss it even though I live in NYC) I hope you mean real kolaches and not the terrible thing that Shipley's calls a kolache. I have German and Chez family members so we have real kolaches at every family gathering. Those sweet pasteries are such a part of our lives that when my mother died when I as 15 we drove almost an hour out of the way to share true kolaches together on that day because man they were her favorite.

Another Texas thing is "close" could mean as much as a 2 hour drive. I always laugh here in NYC when people say OMG Philly is so far away! It is seriously only a 90 minute long drive so "close" to the city in Texas terms. I lived in Houston and went to college in Marshal and would drive the 4 hours each way to go home on weekends. Now here in NYC my BF can't be bothered to go 45 minutes to go home or see friends or go shopping.

Over yander is a direction. It is usually said while pointing.

oh yes, Kolaches from one of the bakeries in downtown West, Texas are the BEST things. I've never even had one from Shipley's.
the close thing is definitely true. I live a little less than 2 hours from both Dallas and Austin and each is defnitely close. Close enough to go for a few hours and drive back home.

 

[tvguy]

My wife has family in Illinois just west of Evanston, Indiana. Made the drive from St. Louis to there at least 20 times, always count the signs advertising "Fried Walleye". Also enjoy a Pork Steak or two while there. You ask a butcher in California for a pork steak, and they way there is no such thing.