Southern Charm

There is just something about being southern. From “yes ma’m” to “let’s just gitter done”, being southern has a lot of charm. I’m not completely sure what brings about the southern culture but one thing for certain- being southern means there is a love for specific things in life. Here are some sure-fire southern loves:

Church- Folks in the south have been known to enjoy going to church, having “pot luck suppers” and having “gospel sings”. Those things are staple in the south.

Fried Chicken- When a person visits a southern home, one of the best smells in the world would be fried chicken frying in the kitchen. Our new generation might stop off by Publix or Winn Dixie, The Piggly Wiggly or Kroger to purchase a box of chicken already fried but in the south, we like fried chicken!

Fishing and Hunting-Southern folks love to hunt and fish. Many people are members of hunting clubs and a great majority go to lakes and even the coasts to fish.
Guitar- When growing up on a lonely one lane road in Jacksonville, Florida one thing I remember well was going to Granny Lee’s where James and the boys would play guitar and sing till late in the night. Harmony, folk festivals and guitar pickin’ has been a certain thing in the southern home.

God- Grits, God and Good Food has been a southern slogan for years. Folks of the south love God and respect His Holy name. They are “go-to-meeting” people and love God and His Word.

High School Football- One thing about the south is that there are many small towns in the south. As a result, the hometown football team is a huge draw! Small town America and especially in the south, love the hometown hero in terms of high school football. Parties, dressing in team shirts and making a full weekend out of following the team’s successes and desire is paramount in the south.

Jesus- There is no shame in the south when it comes to Jesus. In the south, following Jesus as Savior is as important as sharing one’s faith. In the south Jesus is King.

Moon Pies-Having a moon pie and an R.C. Cola was once a highlight of the south. Now-a-days, the southern folk go to the Cracker Barrel to buy a Moon Pie. The older generation know more about this than the young but in the south, the Moon Pie had it’s place in history!

Please n’ Thank You- There is definitely something special about folks in the south and the way they address their elders. There is the ultimate respect. Boys are taught to tip their hat, and certainly remove their hat while in the building and for sure at the table. The youth are taught to say “Please and Thank you” and to show respect for the elders.

Porch Swing- With the invention of the AC unit, folks don’t sit on swings as prominently as they once did but in the south, a swing can be seen in most yards. Folks in the south like to swing.

Sweet Tea-Now there is no doubt that cold iced tea is a southern thing and it’s going to be sweet too! Southern sweet tea will have a full glass of ice and be filled to the to the top.

Tip Hat- It is appropriate for boys and gentlemen to tip their hat to a lady. Southern guys love to wear baseball caps, wide brimmed hats, fishing hats, boating hats, hunting hats and more. When in the presence of a lady, a southern gentleman will tip his hat or even take it off.

Yes Sir, No Ma’am- No southern gentleman or even lady would answer an adult with a “no” answer. Rather, a southern gentleman or lady would express agreement with “yes ma’am” or disagreement with “no ma’am”. It’s definitely a southern thing!

Watermelon- The watermelon is one of the crops grown in the south and thus holds a special place in the hearts and minds of a southern person. When I was young, we would visit my Grandfather’s South Carolina farm’s watermelon path and walk through the field breaking open whole watermelons left behind from farmers. The sweet spot in the center was so sweet. We would go from one melon to another and eat out the heart.

Being southern is something to be proud of… Oh yes, if you’re from the North, it’s special too but being a southern gal, I wouldn’t know those traits. Why don’t you share them with us on our Facebook page.

Josie