Southern customs always struck me as somewhat exotic for a Northern child. I had never been to the South until I finally got the call from a friend saying “Guess who’s coming to Lynchburg?” I barely knew this guy’s family but they gave me the star treatment as if I were their brother from another mother. The fire pit oozed smoke and two tables were covered in old-time cooking that were duly augmented by bottles of sweet tea magically refilled.
Before the day ended, I could see why traditions runs so deep through all of Southern life. From food to family, the South is about roots. Here are 11 Southern traditions that can make anyone feel at home.
The Importance of Hospitality
Southerners go so far to offer extra hospitality – a fresh-brewed pot of coffee, hot tea with honey, an offer to pull up extra chairs or just something simple such as a welcoming smile. An outsider might find it difficult to believe that a true experience of hospitality usually means sharing a meal cooked at home, and sitting down at the kitchen table and lingering over a story – a true test of one’s community, pride and empathy.
Sweet Tea as a Staple
In the South, sweet tea is brewed at nearly every event, meal or party — and it is usually made with a heavy hand on both the tea and the sugar. To many Southerners, the ritual of making and serving sweet tea is as important as the drink itself, and they are nearly as passionate discussing the “correct” way of brewing this tea.
Sunday Dinners
You know, it’s something the Southerners do – after church on a Sunday, they all have a family dinner. These meals are simply a way of life. During the meals, sometimes grandchildren learn from their elders what the family histories have historically represented. These Sunday dinners could seem weird to somebody who lives a faster pace of life – or doesn’t appreciate family traditions as much.
Front Porch Sitting
And there’s nothing quite as blissful – or Southern – as sitting out on the front porch (usually in chairs, but better in rockers or glider swings) and doing nothing but relaxing — enjoying the passage of visitors and acquaintances, and the breezes and smells. If that sounds a little trivial, it’s precisely the point.
The Art of Storytelling
No one knows this better than Southerners, who have such a vibrant storytelling culture. Family history, local lore and scandalous tales about neighbors – Southerners tell these narratives in a way that few outsiders, much less any non-Southerners, are going to ‘get’, much less ‘get’ in the sense of appreciating the quality of them. The Southern stories are often salty, over-the-top and colorful.
Seasonal Celebrations
They like to have seasonal festivals and quilting bees for who-the-hell-knows-what. I could list half a dozen here: spring crawfish boils, the county fall harvest festival, etc. There is a meaning to these celebrations – a sense of remembrance of local culture and heritage – but it’s not one that most outsiders will understand.
Barbecue Rituals
Barbecue is serious business in the South, in more ways than one. It is considered a practiced art with a prescribed ritual – everyone has a favorite way of cooking a specific specialty. And there are certain regional ways of doing it even within the South – Texas vs. Alabama vs. elsewhere may have different ways of cooking their meat.
Southern Sayings and Expressions
The South is famous for the ability of its citizens to turn a phrase. Phrases like “bless your heart” can carry a range of meanings, and understanding them fully often requires an insider’s perspective.
The Significance of Football
In schools across the South, college football is church. The games are points of communal ritual, the tailgates are essential rites of passage. New in town? I apologize in advance for the madness & fury driving college rivalries – there’s no telling how the wins and losses affect fans’ emotions.
The Role of Faith
Religion – and particularly Christianity – is at the heart of the culture in the South. Many holidays and many other traditions are religious in nature as are many purely social events. To outsiders this is mystifying. Not only does religion dominate much of the personal life of the Southerner, but much of the communal round and even many political actions begin in the religion of those involved.
The Reverence for History
Southerners hold a deep respect for elders, value close family ties, and often feel a strong connection to their homes and traditions. This appreciation for history shows up in all kinds of ways—whether it’s hosting gatherings in old family homes, honoring historic architecture, or putting on weekend reenactments of famous battles. Towns also hold annual events to celebrate milestones in their history, reinforcing community bonds and values.
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