They run through our bodies, in our blood, settling straight in our proud hearts. But somehow, some things are changing. Society, even in the South, is not as warm as it used to be. Gone are the days of saying hello to every stranger you pass on the street. People no longer make eye contact in public, for fear of being perceived as strange, creepy, or odd. Neighbors tend keep to themselves- consider yourself lucky if you know the people to the right and left of you.
I love that people from around the country expect Southern people to be warm and gracious. This is one stereotype I'd like to keep going. We should cherish the things that set us apart. What's wrong with holding parties for no reason? Why not strike up a conversation with the person behind you in line at the grocery store? Let's hang on to the things that have kept us a proud people.
10 Southern Traditions we need to keep alive:
1. Respecting our elders: The generations that have gone on before us know a thing or two about life. We shouldn't shake our heads at our grandparents, thinking, "Things aren't the same as they were when you were young. Catch up to the hear and now!" Honor and keep their memories precious.
3. Saying ma'am and sir: I believe I once told the story of how Southern Hubby, who hails from the Midwest, was often perplexed when I would answer anyone with this formality, even the girl from the McDonald's drive-thru. To me, it doesn't matter what 'position' a person has, everyone deserves the same amount of respect. This is especially important when addressing someone older than you.
4. Helping out a stranger: Once, SH and I were getting out of our car in a grocery store parking lot. We noticed a woman drop her wallet as she got out of her car. She did not notice it and began heading towards the store. We immediately went to pick it up to return it her. You could see the shock and relief in her face when we handed it to her. She then told us that she had just cashed her paycheck, and that wallet contained the only money she had in the world. She was there to buy food for her children. If you see someone in need of a hand, go offer your help. It won't take but a couple minutes and they will appreciate it more than you know.
5. Properly setting your table and *gasp* using real cloth napkins: When we got married, SH and I were so blessed to have gotten all the dinnerware and table linens we requested. For the first year of our marriage I set our table sparingly, wanting to save our 'nicer' things for company. But I soon realized that my family was just as important as any company that walked through our door. Why not make them feel special and pampered? Why not make every dinner an event? Use the things you deem 'for company' everyday. Those napkins were made to hold the crumbs from your grandmother's ham biscuits.That's it for today! Come back on Wednesday for part 2! :)
Happy Monday, folks! Let's start the week off with a smile! :)
xoxo Y
34 sweetie poos said...:
great post! i completely agree with everything you've said in it!
What a great post!!!! I cant wait to read part 2!
This is a good post!!
GREAT POST!! I so agree that Southerners should keep those proud traditions alive. I found a wallet on the ground last week at work and went out of my way to return it to it's original owner. It was a teenage boy and his mother called to thank me later the same day. I thought to myself well isn't that what anyone would do and then I realized sadly it probably was not.
Wonderful!! I agree wholeheartedly with everything! Can't wait until Wednesday to read more!
Beautiful post, Jennifer! I think these traditions and values should be prominent everywhere--not just the south!
I just HAD to take a moment and comment on this post because it is lovely. I love all those traditions. I can't help myself, I simply have to call people sir and ma'am, its beyond. Or when I refer to someone I usually say something like "that gentleman" or "that lady". A previous boss once asked me how did I know if the man really was a gentleman. A worker answered that for me everybody is a gentleman. They said as a form of criticism, unfortunately. But I take it as a compliment. My mother raised me to show respect for other people.
One day my mother, who prefers to use the walk in teller rather than the drive thru teller, was waiting in line. When the customer in front of her left she walked up to the teller, which started to push out a bunch of $ 100.00. My mother immediately grabbed the money and ran over to the old man, who was getting ready to drive off, and handed him the money. Apparently, he though that the ATM was out of money and walked away leaving his card and the cash. He could not believe that my mother had been so honest.
Very cute post! Can't wait to see part two. I completely agree with #3, people seem shocked when I go up north and say sir and ma'am to everyone I come in contact with!
I couldn't agree more, and I'm not even from the South! There must be something odd about me or my parents were just very conscientious: I've always said "sir" and "ma'am" and I'm from the Midwest...hmm...
Those should not be southern things. They should be done by all across the country.
I love this! But no matter how hard we try, words can't sum up just how fabulous the South and Southern women are!!!
I agree, these should be country wide values.
To me, the south just seems to move at a slower pace than, say, New York City. It seems to me that taking life slowly leads more people to have/make relationships with others. Although, this is definitely not something that is not done in other parts of America.
That is so true! I say hello to people on the street, and often people don't say hello back! This makes me really sad! I think manners are very important. Thank you for reminding us all to mind our P's and Q's!
I too have been wearing dresses more lately! Even at the end of the week, when the rest of the office is doing "Casual Fridays" I make a point to dress up.
Thanks for highlighting these - I couldn't agree more! Now, where are my cloth napkins hiding?
I agree with this post so much! All of it. I went to Walmart the other day and I had worn a dress to work and had my hair hanging down...even though it was so hot, and a little gentleman came up to me and told me that I was pretty. It made me feel so good inside. He wasn't trying to be flirty...I thought he was so sweet. My kids all say yes ma'am and no ma'am and that makes me so proud of them.
What a FABULOUS post! :)
Yes... gloves are great.
Love & Blessings~ Miss Jen
Great post!
Oh I was so meant to be born in the South. I don't know how I ended up in Australia but your list personifies everything I value and believe in. I'm going to start living my life as a Southern lady. I am going to look ridiculous in a hat and white gloves especially around here, but who knows, maybe I'll start a trend :)
Great post! I have had to explain a lot of Southern things to my Canadian hubby
I am so honoured to be an honourary southerner! I seriously feel like I just won a pageant and you've just placed a crown on my head. Tears of joy...
I've been walking around saying y'all all day. My family think I've lost the plot. :)
I completely agree!! When I lived in NYC, people would fuss at me for calling them sir or ma'am. They must not have known that I would get bopped on the head as a child everytime I answered with "Yeah?" instead of "Yes, Sir?". Rest assured, my future children will get the same training!
PS- I probably own two pairs of pants- I just was born to wear dresses and skirts :)
I love love love this post!!!
What a great post! I had to laugh at the napkin thing .... I had perfum that my husband had given me that I would only wear on "special Occassions". I've had to stop and ask myself alot recently, of why not make every day a special day?
Fabulous post! I can't wait to read Part 2!!
What a great list!! And things that every American should do, I think! :)
I love this post and had been thinking of doing some kind of "southern" post once a week (but I don't know if I could come up with enough every week)! This one is great!
So true, well done. Cannot wait for the second installment!
Great post.
PLEASE include how we address anyone older than ourselves that we know as Mr or Miss first name. Example my dad's good friends are Mr. Charlie & Ms. Jackie. I'll never forget the first time my stepson visited he is from MI & was 8 at the time. He called my parents by their first name. I about fell out the door. And up there they call every one by their first name. He calls his Aunt just Holly instead of Aunt Holly. My relatives would wonder if I had gone mental.
Growing up military and then marrying into military...we have lived all over. And I definitely loved when our kids were able to pick up the respectful use of "sir" and "m'am"...Love everything you have written about in this post...
I am back at catching up again after a few days of not blog reading! I look forward to what your Part 2 has to say...
Blessings & aloha... and Thank you kindly, m'am" :o)
Loved this list! And I love white gloves!
Love this list! Couldn't agree more!
Hello ladies. I thought I would explain how ma'am and sir are used outside of the South. In the south, ma'am and sir are used for all adults, whether strangers or loved ones. Elsewhere, ma'am and sir are reserved for strangers where you don't know the person's name and you aren't anticipating a relationship. So a Northerner might say, "Excuse me, sir, how do I get to the post office?" or "Excuse me, ma'am, I think you dropped something." Because there isn't a relationship there and there is no anticipation of a relationship. But a Northerner typically wouldn't use ma'am or sir in greeting a parent, grandparent, teacher or anyone else where there is already a preexisting relationship. See the difference? It's not that they are being unmannerly, it is just that for them, ma'am and sir connote respect for a STRANGER, not respect for someone that you already know. Does that help explain the difference? Have a nice day, ladies!
As a displaced southerner... (via CA, CO, and now OH), I get a lot of strange looks for #3... but I can't help it! Excuse me ma'am is so much better than hey you! And my future potential children will learn it, even if we do live in the Mid-west!
What a well-said post! Bravo!
I think the younger generation is who I want to smack sometimes!
I walk into an establishment and they are on the cell phone texting and not looking at me...asking if they can help me. NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
AHG! Lil' brats! No manners what so ever. I say please and thank you and they don't even look up, and wave you on. Rude.
Not cool. Really ruins it for me to be polite to the next person. This day and age, is a real challenge to be the nice person you are. I take a deep breath and keep smiling.
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