We Illinoisans don’t live our lives the same way as the rest of the country, and there are some unwritten rules for passing as a local here. You’ll look like an idiot if you go against any of these 12 guidelines, so read up and pay attention.
These Illinois faux-pas are based off decades of experience and have been handed down to each new generation. Keep scrolling to make sure you’re following these rules.
- Never trust a weather man
Wikipedia/Ks0stm Illinois weather can change in the blink of an eye. The sun can shine in one hour and be replaced by storm clouds the next, despite the promise of clear skies.
- Buy local
Wikimedia Commons/Richie Diesterheft Grocery stores, restaurants, and even barbers that are locally owned tend to attract the attention of Illinoisans more than chains. We love supporting family-owned, mom & pop shops.
- Halloween will always be cold
Flickr/liz west It’s hard to be a gypsy, ninja, or mermaid when it’s 45 degrees outside. Costumes that require coats or capes are best.
- We do not celebrate snow
Wikimedia/Famartin The first snow of the year may be pretty, but it’s not long before that fluffy white junk becomes brown mush all over the road. Is it thick? Will it make your car skid? There’s only one way to find out.
- Keep a windshield scraper in your car
Flickr/Ravi Shah That first snow almost always freezes to the windshield. You don’t want to be that person who still has mounds of snow on top of their vehicle.
- A shovel in the trunk is wise too
Flickr/Steven Depolo Especially if you are unfortunate enough to park on the street where you live, a shovel is your best tool for getting out of a plowed-in spot. Make sure to mark it when you’re done so no one takes advantage of your hard work.
- Don’t let weather stand in your way
Pixel/yapennington If you have the above mentioned tools, you should be set to go out in any weather. The weather man doesn’t know what he’s talking about anyway.
- Corn should be knee high by July
Pixabay/juliacasado1 This is one of several unwritten rules Illinois shares with much of the Midwest. Nowadays, it far surpasses that, and that’s how we like it here. If the corn is already high by the middle of summer, you know by harvest, it’s going to reach the sky.
- Summers should be spent at a state park
Wikimedia Commons/Ken Ratcliff Illinois is full of amazing places to spend time outdoors. As winter makes that difficult, we take full advantage of the warm months by visiting places like the Shawnee National Forest and Starved Rock State Park.
- Lake Michigan beats any ocean
Wikimedia Commons/Yinan Chen Forget the shores of the Pacific or the warm waters around Miami - Lake Michigan has it all. Endless, rolling waves, pristine sands, and cool breezes make our north eastern border the best place on earth.
- Fall is for football
Wikimedia Commons/Paul Cutler Pretty much as soon as fall officially begins, football season kicks off. For many Illinoisans, this means the next dozen or so Sundays are reserved.
- Chicago is nothing like the rest of the state
Wikimedia Commons/John Picken Everyone knows that Chicagoland is not an accurate representation of Illinois. Those who think so haven’t visited the southern reaches, which are like a whole other beautiful world.
For more insight into Illinoisans, check out these 11 true stereotypes about Illinois that we all just need to accept as fact.
Wikipedia/Ks0stm
Illinois weather can change in the blink of an eye. The sun can shine in one hour and be replaced by storm clouds the next, despite the promise of clear skies.
Wikimedia Commons/Richie Diesterheft
Grocery stores, restaurants, and even barbers that are locally owned tend to attract the attention of Illinoisans more than chains. We love supporting family-owned, mom & pop shops.
Flickr/liz west
It’s hard to be a gypsy, ninja, or mermaid when it’s 45 degrees outside. Costumes that require coats or capes are best.
Wikimedia/Famartin
The first snow of the year may be pretty, but it’s not long before that fluffy white junk becomes brown mush all over the road. Is it thick? Will it make your car skid? There’s only one way to find out.
Flickr/Ravi Shah
That first snow almost always freezes to the windshield. You don’t want to be that person who still has mounds of snow on top of their vehicle.
Flickr/Steven Depolo
Especially if you are unfortunate enough to park on the street where you live, a shovel is your best tool for getting out of a plowed-in spot. Make sure to mark it when you’re done so no one takes advantage of your hard work.
Pixel/yapennington
If you have the above mentioned tools, you should be set to go out in any weather. The weather man doesn’t know what he’s talking about anyway.
Pixabay/juliacasado1
This is one of several unwritten rules Illinois shares with much of the Midwest. Nowadays, it far surpasses that, and that’s how we like it here. If the corn is already high by the middle of summer, you know by harvest, it’s going to reach the sky.
Wikimedia Commons/Ken Ratcliff
Illinois is full of amazing places to spend time outdoors. As winter makes that difficult, we take full advantage of the warm months by visiting places like the Shawnee National Forest and Starved Rock State Park.
Wikimedia Commons/Yinan Chen
Forget the shores of the Pacific or the warm waters around Miami - Lake Michigan has it all. Endless, rolling waves, pristine sands, and cool breezes make our north eastern border the best place on earth.
Wikimedia Commons/Paul Cutler
Pretty much as soon as fall officially begins, football season kicks off. For many Illinoisans, this means the next dozen or so Sundays are reserved.
Wikimedia Commons/John Picken
Everyone knows that Chicagoland is not an accurate representation of Illinois. Those who think so haven’t visited the southern reaches, which are like a whole other beautiful world.
What other unwritten rules do you live by ’til death? Share your thoughts with us!
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
