We Pennsylvanians, have our own way of doing things. People from outside of the state might not understand. They might raise an eyebrow, stifle a chuckle, or they might simply question us to learn more. Here are 10 questions the rest of the country likely has for us Pennsylvanians.
- What’s a gob?
Flickr/Joy Mmm…mmm…who doesn’t love a gob? People may not know what a gob is, but offer them a Whoopie Pie and they’ll know what you’re talking about.
- What’s in scrapple?
Flickr/Kate Don’t ask. Just taste it first. But, if you’re really curious, here you go. Scrapple’s ingredients include the organs of pigs, including the heart, head, and liver.
- Why is it called shoofly pie?
Flickr/Anna Creech It’s a PA thing and any one who visits really needs to sit down to a scrumptious piece of shoofly pie. How did the famous pie get its name? No one knows for sure. However, many seem to believe that the pie - made with molasses - attracted flies when it was cooked in outdoor ovens. So, the baker had to “shoo” that fly away from the pie.
- Where’s the Rocky statue?
Flickr/Todd Van Hoosear Visitors to Philly inevitably want to visit the spot where Rocky raised his hands in triumph. Snap a selfie with Rocky when you visit the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
- What is there to do in Pennsylvania?
Flickr/Via Tsujli That’s a pretty loaded question, wouldn’t you agree? PA offers so much to do - indoors andoutdoors - all year around. Our fair state boasts 121 state parks. Then consider the eclectic museums - like the Carnegie Museum of Natural History - the restaurants, the theaters, the shops…and the list goes on.
- Why do you call it PA?
Flickr/Jim Hickcox It’s just what we do. And, it just sounds so much cooler than Pennsylvania, doesn’t it? PA.
- Why the heck is Pennsylvania called the “Keystone State?”
Flickr/Vicky Vinch ON/OFF Pennsylvania earned the nickname The Keystone State, in part, because of its shape. And, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, “Geographically, Pennsylvania’s central location along the arch of the 13 original states calls to mind a keystone.”
- Are you a Steelers fan or an Eagles fan?
Flickr/Walt Mateja Sr. Really, you’ve gotta be either one or the other. Right? Which are you?
- Why do you make such a big deal about a groundhog?
Flickr/Anthony Quintano That little groundhog gets plenty of flack from the rest of the country and, okay, sometimes from those of us in PA. But, Punxsutawney Phil is about as PA as you get. We really do love the little fella, even if he’s usually wrong in his weather predictions.
- Don’t you ever just want to leave PA for good?
Flickr/Nicholas A. Tonelli Some people have the misconception that we Pennsylvanians are, well, stuck here. We’re not. We live here because we want to live here. And, some of us leave for a while or for good. We always return, maybe not to live, but to visit and to enjoy being back home.
What are some questions you think the rest of the country has for Pennsylvanians? Share your thoughts below! Then, click here to read about the 10 things everyone should know before moving to Pennsylvania.
Flickr/Joy
Mmm…mmm…who doesn’t love a gob? People may not know what a gob is, but offer them a Whoopie Pie and they’ll know what you’re talking about.
Flickr/Kate
Don’t ask. Just taste it first. But, if you’re really curious, here you go. Scrapple’s ingredients include the organs of pigs, including the heart, head, and liver.
Flickr/Anna Creech
It’s a PA thing and any one who visits really needs to sit down to a scrumptious piece of shoofly pie. How did the famous pie get its name? No one knows for sure. However, many seem to believe that the pie - made with molasses - attracted flies when it was cooked in outdoor ovens. So, the baker had to “shoo” that fly away from the pie.
Flickr/Todd Van Hoosear
Visitors to Philly inevitably want to visit the spot where Rocky raised his hands in triumph. Snap a selfie with Rocky when you visit the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Flickr/Via Tsujli
That’s a pretty loaded question, wouldn’t you agree? PA offers so much to do - indoors andoutdoors - all year around. Our fair state boasts 121 state parks. Then consider the eclectic museums - like the Carnegie Museum of Natural History - the restaurants, the theaters, the shops…and the list goes on.
Flickr/Jim Hickcox
It’s just what we do. And, it just sounds so much cooler than Pennsylvania, doesn’t it? PA.
Flickr/Vicky Vinch ON/OFF
Pennsylvania earned the nickname The Keystone State, in part, because of its shape. And, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, “Geographically, Pennsylvania’s central location along the arch of the 13 original states calls to mind a keystone.”
Flickr/Walt Mateja Sr.
Really, you’ve gotta be either one or the other. Right? Which are you?
Flickr/Anthony Quintano
That little groundhog gets plenty of flack from the rest of the country and, okay, sometimes from those of us in PA. But, Punxsutawney Phil is about as PA as you get. We really do love the little fella, even if he’s usually wrong in his weather predictions.
Flickr/Nicholas A. Tonelli
Some people have the misconception that we Pennsylvanians are, well, stuck here. We’re not. We live here because we want to live here. And, some of us leave for a while or for good. We always return, maybe not to live, but to visit and to enjoy being back home.
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