Regional Traditions

[shoney]

To Family/Friends:

Me (the native Floridian): Why don't you come over to our house after the movie?

My Husband (the Northern New Jersian): Why don't you come by us after the movie?

Come by us? What the heck does that even mean??? Lol!!! You can come by us, but not in our home. Just by us, a little bit.

Also, I put my clothes in the drawer. He puts his in the draw.

that's funny. I can definately hear someone saying either "come by" or "stop by".

 

[Pea-n-Me]

When I lived in the Boston area, we got a drink of water from a bubbler. I remember my sundaes with chocolate jimmies at Friendly's.

Forgot about the bubblah.

 

[Crystal Brewer]

To Family/Friends:

Me (the native Floridian): Why don't you come over to our house after the movie?

My Husband (the Northern New Jersian): Why don't you come by us after the movie?

Come by us? What the heck does that even mean??? Lol!!! You can come by us, but not in our home. Just by us, a little bit.

Also, I put my clothes in the drawer. He puts his in the draw.

Lol I'd ask "How much" for your hubbies statement as I've heard "by our place" yet never just "by us" tho I'm sure he'd lol at my region also

 

[JaneBanks]

I'm sorry but I just have to say something. I'm just so sick of hearing how people up north, especially NY and NJ, are rude. We are not rude. I hear please, and thank you all the time. People hold doors for me and I hold doors for them.

Northerners may be more direct but I'd rather know what people are thinking then get a "bless your heart" (which to me isn't polite at all).

I'm not saying any region is more polite than the other but southerners do not hold all the cards on manners and all northerners are not rude and unfriendly.

Sorry, this is a big pet peeve of mine, just had to rant!

 

[mtemm]

And Vernors - you can only imagine my horror when, as a 10yo stuck in suburban Boston for a wedding in the brutal heat of summer, I discovered that not only do they not know what a "Boston cooler" is in Boston, they couldn't even procure the necessary ingredients! My aunt used to pack her trunk half-full of cases of Vernors to take home every time she came back to Detroit for a visit.

so what exactly is a boston cooler?

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Most southerners tend to be more friendly and talkative in public places. Like at the grocery store - people are a little more courteous. Down here (basically NY/NJ at the beach), people are generally pretty rude and unfriendly in public places.

It might just be a different way of relating to people.

 

[LongLiveDisney]

I'm sorry but I just have to say something. I'm just so sick of hearing how people up north, especially NY and NJ, are rude. We are not rude. I hear please, and thank you all the time. People hold doors for me and I hold doors for them.

Northerners may be more direct but I'd rather know what people are thinking then get a "bless your heart" (which to me isn't polite at all).

I'm not saying any region is more polite than the other but southerners do not hold all the cards on manners and all northerners are not rude and unfriendly.

Sorry, this is a big pet peeve of mine, just had to rant!

Thanks for taking care of that for me! When I moved from NJ to TX (or any of the other states I lived in) I got a lot of looks when people asked where we came from along with an "Oh..." Annoyed the heck out of me.

 

[Family Fun Mom]

so what exactly is a boston cooler?

It's like a root beer float only made with vanilla ice cream and Vernors. Sooooooo good!

 

[DisneyWalle]

Alabama here ---

I am surprised no one has mentioned this -- but the courteous wave you give other drivers on the road to say hi. Mostly its people in trucks -- not sure why.

Down here being ugly doesn't mean your appearance but your attitude.

We don't say soda or pop -- but I will have a coke -- everyone knows to ask what kind, i.e., pepsi, coke, mt dew, sprite etc.

Ma'am and sir are taught to show respect.

Down here -- we look you in the eye, smile and say hey as we pass each other in stores or walking on the street. Its rude to not acknowledge someone as you walk by.

Traditional breakfast always includes grits and biscuits n' gravy (always homemade biscuits nothing from a can or mix).
Thanksgiving is cornbread dressing with giblet gravy. We don't eat stuffin' down here.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Alabama here ---

I am surprised no one has mentioned this -- but the courteous wave you give other drivers on the road to say hi. Mostly its people in trucks -- not sure why.

Down here being ugly doesn't mean your appearance but your attitude.

We don't say soda or pop -- but I will have a coke -- everyone knows to ask what kind, i.e., pepsi, coke, mt dew, sprite etc.

Ma'am and sir are taught to show respect.

Down here -- we look you in the eye, smile and say hey as we pass each other in stores or walking on the street. Its rude to not acknowledge someone as you walk by.

Traditional breakfast always includes grits and biscuits n' gravy (always homemade biscuits nothing from a can or mix).
Thanksgiving is cornbread dressing with giblet gravy. We don't eat stuffin' down here.

I'm having a hard time adjusting to that here in NY.

When I make eye contact I always smile! They look at me like I'm nuts!

 

[A_Princess'_Daddy]

I'm sorry but I just have to say something. I'm just so sick of hearing how people up north, especially NY and NJ, are rude. We are not rude. I hear please, and thank you all the time. People hold doors for me and I hold doors for them.

Northerners may be more direct but I'd rather know what people are thinking then get a "bless your heart" (which to me isn't polite at all).

I'm not saying any region is more polite than the other but southerners do not hold all the cards on manners and all northerners are not rude and unfriendly.

Sorry, this is a big pet peeve of mine, just had to rant!

No region has a monopoly on manners in this country. And what one region finds polite, another may find rude.

When we moved to Iowa after a lifetime living in New England, I was surprised to find people here assume you want your coffee black unless you specify additions. People in Iowa eat "Eye-talian food" instead of "Ih-talian food" and they "get the di-a-bee-tus" instead of "have di-a-bee-tees".

People here want to know what town you grew up in (and lose interest when it isn't in Iowa) and have no interest in the classic Boston question of "where did you go to school?", by which we mean where one went to college. The first time I asked that, the person told me where they went to high school and linked it back to the town where they were born and raised.

And the biggest one that got to me: People stop for yellow lights in Iowa! Seriously, I nearly rear-ended a dozen cars in my first week here alone! And don't get me started on what happens at a 4-way stop sign!

People here are also surprised that I don't sound like I just walked out of Good Will Hunting when they find out I came from Cambridge. Not sure why I don't have an accent, but apparently I never picked one up.

 

[AmericangirlinFrance]

I'm sorry but I just have to say something. I'm just so sick of hearing how people up north, especially NY and NJ, are rude. We are not rude. I hear please, and thank you all the time. People hold doors for me and I hold doors for them.

Northerners may be more direct but I'd rather know what people are thinking then get a "bless your heart" (which to me isn't polite at all).

I'm not saying any region is more polite than the other but southerners do not hold all the cards on manners and all northerners are not rude and unfriendly.

Sorry, this is a big pet peeve of mine, just had to rant!

Well, I'm probably guilty of over-generalizing. I have never lived or spent much time in NY/NJ. But here in south Florida, the snowbirds/retirees from that area are NOT as friendly, at least when it comes to "public courtesy". But that maybe an older person thing... who knows! I know of course that does not apply to all retirees/snowbirds from up north in Florida. But when you go to the grocery store, the post office, etc. people are not as courteous and friendly as they are in similar locations in the south. Some of it is just difference in culture, I know. Maybe down here some of it is dementia?

Please accept my apologies... I know people from NY and NJ are just as nice as southerners. There are some rude southerners too!! I think there is a cultural difference in "directness", like you said, which can occasionally come off as a bit rude or curt to those not accustomed to such directness.

 

[Art 1]

I'm sorry but I just have to say something. I'm just so sick of hearing how people up north, especially NY and NJ, are rude. We are not rude. I hear please, and thank you all the time. People hold doors for me and I hold doors for them.

Northerners may be more direct but I'd rather know what people are thinking then get a "bless your heart" (which to me isn't polite at all).

I'm not saying any region is more polite than the other but southerners do not hold all the cards on manners and all northerners are not rude and unfriendly.

Sorry, this is a big pet peeve of mine, just had to rant!

Just got home from a weekend in NYC. Go there as often as I can. I find the people of NY to be very nice, polite and helpful.

 

[North of Mouse]

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.

South Louisiana here - I could have written this!

Also, red beans, sausage, rice - a *must* at least once a week!

 

[Jaya]

Then there are Coney dogs, which have nothing to do with Coney Island whatsoever. Another shocking travel moment for me as a kid - you can't get a proper Coney dog in New York (or couldn't anyway, circa 1988).

Coney Dogs!!! How could I forget Detroit Coney Dogs? Lafayette Coney Island or American Coney Island? Tough little dogs with "grey" sauce -- no red sauce....huh-uh! Both were on Lafayette Street when I worked at the Detroit News in the 70's. The agreement was that we ALL had to have coney dogs or NOBODY could have coney dogs......because you could NOT get them without onion....no sir...no way. And don't even ask for ketchup. Mustard only and it wasn't optional. This wasn't Burger King....you got it THEIR way or you didn't get it at all.

 

[Jaya]

It's like a root beer float only made with vanilla ice cream and Vernors. Sooooooo good!

I remember they briefly came out with Vernors Ice Cream. Interesting, but nothing like a Vernors and vanilla ice cream float. If you don't sneeze when you drink it, it ain't Vernors.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

This is true! I still think it is funny the story my mom tells about moving to Northern Illinois (and for those that don't know Illinois nearly a split state -- it does tend to get weird because you have the Southern influence in the Southern part of the state & the Northern influence in the North - it's weird). My mom has lived in Illinois all her life but grew up in Anna, which is in the Southern part. She moved up here when she was 18 for a job....even after I was born and in my teen years, she would tell us how people would ask us where she was from -- to which she would give them a look. They would tell her she had an accent. I do notice it with my aunts a bit more (i.e. they call pop - soda & they use a lot of the more Southern terms for things but that may be because my Grandmother was originally from Kentucky).

In Missouri, we like to refer to Southern Illinois as "West Kentucky"

 

[Jaya]

In Missouri, we like to refer to Southern Illinois as "West Kentucky"

Just like we call the Florida Panhandle "L.A." (Lower Alabama).

 

[Gumbo4x4]

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.

Pork steaks are to St Louis as Tri Tip is to Nor Cal.

Also "toasted ravioli" which is actually deep fried.

 

[mtemm]

It's like a root beer float only made with vanilla ice cream and Vernors. Sooooooo good!

Follow up question...what is Vernors?