Regional Traditions

[Social Worker Sue]

I did not find this out until I had a friend of my daughter's spend the night when she was in middle school. The girl's mother was from New York and when I asked her a question her response was "What?" I was very annoyed because the correct response is "Ma'am?"

Actually, the correct response is: "Pardon me?"

We were just taught to say "Ma'am?" when we don't understand what someone is saying. But, that really isn't a question or a statement.

Excuse me or pardon me is the correct thing to say. See. I am learning

 

[mhsjax]

You were clearly ignoring my post since you posted multiple responses to other posters over a few pages.

I didn't need an apology, I knew I was right. I was trying to prove a point and you helped me tremendously, so thank you.

Actually, you DON"T know what I was intending to do. I was wanting to go back and re read that person response when I got caught up with that other poster. YOu just proved how demanding and self righteous you are.

I was actually thinking about what I was going to type and that yes I did see where she said something about NY/NJ on the beach. Her isn another thing about the south, we are a stubborn people and I will be damned if you get anything form me now.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

Actually, the correct response is: "Pardon me?"

We were just taught to say "Ma'am?" when we don't understand what someone is saying. But, that really isn't a question or a statement.

Excuse me or pardon me is the correct thing to say. See. I am learning

My husband (originally from Kansas) says "pardon me". Down here, it is usually, "excuse me". My mom was an air force brat and when she was much younger, she lived in Minnesota. She picked up "pardon me" while there. When she moved to Savannah, she used that expression (as a child to another young child) and the other child had to ask her mom what "pardon" meant.

 

[sunshinehighway]

Thank you. For some reason, when someone who lives in the south, states a fact that they like, some people from up north take it as a slam against them. Can't figure that out.

In this thread I don't think that is what happened at all. Someone got upset about something that was said about the South first. Several things had already been said about the North and nobody got upset or at least nobody said anything.

 

[islandtimect]

Isn't anyone else from PHilly? Apparently we say " would-er " for water. We have hoagies not subs or what ever else they are called. They are made with a long soft Amoroso roll, mayonnaise or oil, deli meats and cheeses, lettuce, onion, pickles, tomatoes. you name it...
Our soft pretzels are shaped like an 8 not a rounded heart.
To us a steak sandwhich is made of shaved steak, grilled onions, green peppers on a long soft Amoroso roll.

DH is from a Philly suburb in S Jersey and agree with all your post. We've seen Amoroso rolls on the menu in interesting places, like St John in USVI. Do you ever eat scrapple, that Pennsylvania Dutch pork substance? Never heard of it til meeting my MIL.

One driving thing I've noticed living in northeast FL vs CT - nobody down here uses their blinker to indicate that their turning right or left. And they also drive with their cellphones glued to their ears. I know we drive faster in CT, but these 2 habits seem more dangerous.

 

[Turn the Page]

Well what the heck, this thread is already blown so I may as well say it.

Yes, northerners do tend to be more direct. One of the reasons some of us, and by that I mean me and me alone, feels you need to earn respect is because in my experience southerners often expected to have their have their boots licked and hands held whenever they walked into a store or other establishment. There is a difference between manners and respect. Good manners and politeness should be offered at all times, respect is something that is earned. When I worked as a bank teller I was considered rude because of my accent, no other reason, just my accent. Even my boss said that. She said there was nothing wrong with how I was interacting with customers it's just my accent. People hear it and automatically think I am rude.

However, I think it's rude to bring your checkbook into the bank and expect the tellers to spend an hour balancing it for you. I think it's rude to come in and demand to have overdraft fees removed from your account because you overdrafted again just like you do every week. I think it's rude to ask virtual strangers about their religious beliefs. And I think it is rude to demand the respect of everyone around you just because you woke up that morning. Sorry. In my book respect is earned, it's not an entitlement.

 

[JaneBanks]

Actually, you DON"T know what I was intending to do. I was wanting to go back and re read that person response when I got caught up with that other poster. YOu just proved how demanding and self righteous you are.

I was actually thinking about what I was going to type and that yes I did see where she said something about NY/NJ on the beach. Her isn another thing about the south, we are a stubborn people and I will be damned if you get anything form me now.

I don't know what you are intending but you have no problem attributing traits to me even though you have no idea if they are true or not?

Here is something about me, I don't need anything from you so it works out perfectly. So bless your heart.

 

[Janepod]

Yes! Thank you, I love you! It does drive me nuts when I hear people using the 'regular' pronunciation but now that I live in Florida I have to correct myself when they look at me strangely.

That is a misconception. Most Italians (from Italy) pronounce it as a four-syllable word -- just the "ee" sound at the end is gentle, like the second t is a part of it. This "man-a-goat" three-syllable thing is an Italian-American Sopranos wannabe thing here, or Sicilian/southern Italian pronunciation. Not the majority of the country. Visit Rome, Venice, Florence, Milan -- you will not hear mana-goat, pro-shoot, etc.

But hey, I am a NY/NJ girl at heart and I appreciate fast talking. You want to leave off that final syllable so you can speak faster, go for it.

 

[EMom]

Well what the heck, this thread is already blown so I may as well say it.

Yes, northerners do tend to be more direct. One of the reasons some of us, and by that I mean me and me alone, feels you need to earn respect is because in my experience southerners often expected to have their have their boots licked and hands held whenever they walked into a store or other establishment. There is a difference between manners and respect. Good manners and politeness should be offered at all times, respect is something that is earned. When I worked as a bank teller I was considered rude because of my accent, no other reason, just my accent. Even my boss said that. She said there was nothing wrong with how I was interacting with customers it's just my accent. People hear it and automatically think I am rude.

However, I think it's rude to bring your checkbook into the bank and expect the tellers to spend an hour balancing it for you. I think it's rude to come in and demand to have overdraft fees removed from your account because you overdrafted again just like you do every week. I think it's rude to ask virtual strangers about their religious beliefs. And I think it is rude to demand the respect of everyone around you just because you woke up that morning. Sorry. In my book respect is earned, it's not an entitlement.

Goodness gracious. May you get all the respect you deserve.

 

[Turn the Page]

Goodness gracious. May you get all the respect you deserve.

I generally do, thank you. Except from my ex ILs but that is a whole different story.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

I thought of something else. Here in the south, many of us love our college football. I have discovered that across the south, though, we all dress differently for the football games. Take Ole Miss, for example. The men wear button down shirts, khakis, and ties for the games. The girls wear their dresses and pearls. Georgia seems to be similar. Then you have teams like LSU and Arky who wear t-shirts and jeans to games.

 

[KimR]

I find it ironic that the people who pat themselves on the back for having good manners are often the ones who can be so nasty, mean and abrasive to others. I'm from the south, but I have no use for that kind of superficial sweetness.

 

[afnaechiquita]

I actually found southerners as a group to be more rude than northerners. Northerners are more direct but southerners tend to be very rude behind your back. I guess it's not considered rude if you insult someone behind their back.

Also, I found southern people to be very touchy. They are really easy to tick off and when you do tick them off an astonishing number of them were ready to go out in the parking lot and fight. I have even seen little old ladies threaten it. That is mind boggling to me.

While a lot of people in the south claim to be proud of their heritage and their southern roots I found a shocking number of people know absolutely nothing about the history of the area they grew up in. I once got in a full on debate with a guy who had lived in Kentucky his entire life and kept insisting that Kentucky was a member of the Confederacy. Ummmmm.....no. It was a border state and while occupied by the Confederate army for some time the state never actually seceeded from the Union. Speaking of the Civil War some people still refer to it as the War of Northern Aggression and claim it isn't over yet.

Oh my word this is my biggest gripe being from West Virginia. Confederate flags are everywhere, and yet, how was West Virginia formed? I generally don't mind when one understands the history, but I've had interactions with people who do not at all and use it not as pride in the confederacy, but more hateful reasons. I digress.

No one ever knows what a pepperoni roll is when I say I'm craving one. Luckily they're easy enough to make to allow others to try them =)

 

[Social Worker Sue]

I thought of something else. Here in the south, many of us love our college football. I have discovered that across the south, though, we all dress differently for the football games. Take Ole Miss, for example. The men wear button down shirts, khakis, and ties for the games. The girls wear their dresses and pearls.

I love this Ole Miss Football (and Ole Miss in general) is a beautiful reminder to the nation that we still have class. Nobody does it like Ole Miss. Nobody.

Another thing about Ole Miss is we can say Rebel Nation(!) and we are not being offensive or trying to hurt the feelings of others. We are what we are: Rebel Nation!

If this doesn't pump you up, nothing will:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MA0Sfli_8RI

 

[ashmarie06]

As a Northern Kentucky girl.. I can contribute the following..


1. We use the word fix as a verb. Example: I am fixin to make dinner.

2. All fizzy drinks are cokes. No matter what it really is..

3. Up north means somewhere in Ohio.

4. We are addicted to a drink called ale-8.

5. We eat things such as Goetta, 3 ways and 4 ways.

6. We have cookouts, not bbq's.

7. We add an "s" to the end of almost everything. Walmart is walmarts. Kroger is krogers.

8. Fine Italian dining is heading to larosas with your buddy card.

9. We have a water tower that says ya'll on it.

10. A hoagy here is a piece of cube steak with mushroom or pizza sauce on it.

 

[Social Worker Sue]

I find it ironic that the people who pat themselves on the back for having good manners are often the ones who can be so nasty, mean and abrasive to others. I'm from the south, but I have no use for that kind of superficial sweetness.

I agree. It is embarrassing sometimes.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

I love this Ole Miss Football (and Ole Miss in general) is a beautiful reminder to the nation that we still have class. Nobody does it like Ole Miss. Nobody.

Another thing about Ole Miss is we can say Rebel Nation(!) and we are not being offensive or trying to hurt the feelings of others. We are what we are: Rebel Nation!

If this doesn't pump you up, nothing will:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MA0Sfli_8RI

Ole Miss tailgates are something. I had never seen actual crystal at a tailgate until Ole Miss.

Love the video. Love SEC football. I am so glad A&M finally joined the SEC.

 

[Shyvioletisme]

Someone a few pages back mentioned cake walks. Yes here in Texas (growing up at least, I don't know if they still do it anymore), any school carnival/festival or even town festival had a cake walk.

Other traditions:
bridal showers are most often held in someone's home.
You bring a gift to the shower AND to the wedding. ON that note, all weddings have a gift table. Most weddings in this area have a buffet style dinner.

High School homecoming mums.

 

[Turn the Page]

Oh my word this is my biggest gripe being from West Virginia. Confederate flags are everywhere, and yet, how was West Virginia formed? I generally don't mind when one understands the history, but I've had interactions with people who do not at all and use it not as pride in the confederacy, but more hateful reasons. I digress.

Thank you. That is all I was trying to say. Not that all southerners were idiots or anything like that. Although I do disagree with your opinion of the Confederate battle flag. It does give me major pause whenever I see it whether the person displaying it understands it or not.

ETA: Actually it gives me more pause when they actually do understand what it means. Typically when I see a Confederate flag displayed I generally assume the person displaying it has no idea what it means or is a racist redneck. Being from the north, that is probably because I wasn't raised around them. While musical artists of the southern rock genre, such as Lynyrd Skynyrd and Kid Rock, have begun using the rebel flag in their concerts and merchandise I often wonder why. Whenever I see it all I think of is the Civil War and slavery and can't understand why anyone would want to portray that.

 

[*3*Mouseketeers]

South Mississippi here! I don't know if any of these have been mentioned but here are a few (I won't even go into the Ma'am/sir one! Hahaha)

How is your family? = How's your Mama n' nem?
Children = Youngins
Breakfast, Lunch, Supper (Dinner?) = Breakfast, Dinner, Supper
Oh no! You poor thing! = Bless your heart! (Bless your heart is not always meant in a mean way)

I have a co-worker who I have to correct occasionally because she will be talking to someone on the phone and say "I'll send it to you after dinner" and I tell her that in most other places that would mean after 6:00 PM.