From saying “yes, ma’am” and “no sir” to waiting patiently when stuck behind a tractor holding up traffic, to just loving southern fried cooking more than anything else – growing up North Carolinian has more than a few impacts on a person. Some are fleeting, some are mentioned above, and some below are constant habits and traits that North Carolinians possess even if we leave home.
- Saying yes ma’am, no sir
Flickr / born_to_me It’s more than just southern dialect but something deep within our upbringing - being taught to respect our elders. It doesn’t matter how old we get, if someone is older than us, we always respect them (and refer to them formally).
- Relying on landmarks over GPS
Flickr / kelli From giving directions to getting around, I always know Bojangles will be on the left and honestly…sometimes I just don’t trust a GPS.
- Y’all
Flickr / Gareth I honestly wouldn’t know how to speak or form sentences without the use of y’all.
- Knowing exactly where yonder is
Flickr / vgm8383 Yonder will never be an exact location or unknown destination…it’s just yonder. Once you find it, you’ll understand it.
- Having a weird allegiance to BBQ and basketball
Flickr / Jimmy Emerson, DVM Lexington or Eastern style? UNC or Duke? That’s just how it goes.
- Having your North Carolina traditions
Flickr / kingary From picking apples in the fall, skiing on Christmas Eve, visiting a swimming hole in the summer or picking your own Christmas tree come winter - we all have North Carolina-centric traditions we usually teach to our own children and grandchildren as well.
- Taking time to watch the sunset
Flickr / Alistar Nicol Or sunrise for my early birds. North Carolina has so much beautiful scenery and scenes - we’ve learned to appreciate the little moments and never take them for granted.
- Taking the scenic route
Flickr / Matthew Paulson Or the ’long way home.’ With everything from country roads, coastal highways and the Blue Ridge Parkway we’ve learned how to combine a beautiful drive and stunning views.
- A sense of adventure
Flickr / Zach Frailey From hiking the highest peak east of the Mississippi to surfing hurricane swells, there’s no North Carolinian without a sense of adventure.
- Leaving part of our heart in North Carolina
Flickr / J McDowell At one point or another, we’ll leave home, maybe permanently or temporarily, but one thing that’s true is that we can leave but North Carolina never really leaves us. We’ll always have love for the Tar Heel state.
What did you think? Any you’d add?
Flickr / born_to_me
It’s more than just southern dialect but something deep within our upbringing - being taught to respect our elders. It doesn’t matter how old we get, if someone is older than us, we always respect them (and refer to them formally).
Flickr / kelli
From giving directions to getting around, I always know Bojangles will be on the left and honestly…sometimes I just don’t trust a GPS.
Flickr / Gareth
I honestly wouldn’t know how to speak or form sentences without the use of y’all.
Flickr / vgm8383
Yonder will never be an exact location or unknown destination…it’s just yonder. Once you find it, you’ll understand it.
Flickr / Jimmy Emerson, DVM
Lexington or Eastern style? UNC or Duke? That’s just how it goes.
Flickr / kingary
From picking apples in the fall, skiing on Christmas Eve, visiting a swimming hole in the summer or picking your own Christmas tree come winter - we all have North Carolina-centric traditions we usually teach to our own children and grandchildren as well.
Flickr / Alistar Nicol
Or sunrise for my early birds. North Carolina has so much beautiful scenery and scenes - we’ve learned to appreciate the little moments and never take them for granted.
Flickr / Matthew Paulson
Or the ’long way home.’ With everything from country roads, coastal highways and the Blue Ridge Parkway we’ve learned how to combine a beautiful drive and stunning views.
Flickr / Zach Frailey
From hiking the highest peak east of the Mississippi to surfing hurricane swells, there’s no North Carolinian without a sense of adventure.
Flickr / J McDowell
At one point or another, we’ll leave home, maybe permanently or temporarily, but one thing that’s true is that we can leave but North Carolina never really leaves us. We’ll always have love for the Tar Heel state.
Speaking of North Carolina culture, here are 10 Christmas traditions you’ll only get if you’re from the Tar Heel state.
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