GOOD OLE' "SOUTHERN CULTURE"

 

It is surprising that how
much of American Culture actually comes from Southern Culture.

 

Southerners have a very well developed culture consisting of food, music, art, dance and religion and even manners that differ from the rest of America.

 

My roots start in the South.  Both my parents, their parents, and so forth were born and raised in South Carolina.  Etiquette is very important in the South.  Southern Hospitality is a phrase used in American English to describe the stereotype of residents of the South as warm, sweet and welcoming of visitors to their homes.  Although I am a native New Yorker, "Southern Hospitality" has been instilled in me since childhood, but I have to say I am extremely cautious about the welcoming certain visitors into my home part.  

  

 Manners have always played an important role in the life of Southerners no matter what status in life one holds. While manners seem to be slipping in our modern society, there is still a place for good manners in the South.  Unfortunately, there is little out there to assist in passing on good manners to future generations, I am adamant on teaching my own son these values to carry him on throughout his lifetime.

 

My mom's part of town was in Charleston, S.C.  Charleston has preserved the culture of African heritage more than any other American city since its 340-year history.  South Carolina has come a long way from it's  Confederacy State.  Confederacy consisted of a  government set up in 1861 by 11 slave states that declared their independence from the Union (the United States) during Abraham Lincoln's election in 1860.  



I remember going down to visit family members as a child & driving along in the car and seeing other passerbyers waving to us.  I found it so strange coming from N.Y.  where no one waves a "Hello" to you or even acknowledges you while walking down the street.

Let's not forget to talk about the Southern Cuisine.  Umm.. Just thinking about the huge dinners that were prepared and devoured after church on Sundays.  Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve were specials on the menus. Not to mention the Turkey, there was traditional fresh collard greens, black eyed peas, red rice, corned bread and everyone's favorite Fried chicken and Mac-n-Cheese. And for dessert Peach Cobbler and Sweet Potato pie with homemade Lemonade.