In the rural South, people don’t simply remember traditions, but rather, they live them every day because life here moves at its own pace. Some of these customs are so special that they could surprise people from up North—they just don’t understand these traditions. Here are ten rural Southern American customs that Northerners simply don’t get. But, as anyone from the South knows, it’s these customs that make Southern living so unique.
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Decoration Day at the Old Cemetery
Families in many Southern towns still keep the tradition of Decoration Day alive, which involves more than tidying up the graves—it’s a full-on family reunion right there in the cemetery. Everyone brings dishes for a big picnic spread and people spend the day remembering loved ones, sharing stories & catching up. Eating fried chicken next to Grandma’s headstone might sound strange to Northerners but here, it’s a way of staying connected to their roots.
Ghost Catchers in the Backyard
If you drive through the rural South, you might spot trees or poles covered with shimmering glass bottles in someone’s yard, although they’re not simply a form of decoration. People believe these bottle trees trap evil spirits wandering at night and the spirits get lured inside the bottles—come daylight, they’re gone for good. For many Southerners, this tradition is meant to keep bad energy away from the home and they take it quite seriously.
The Ultimate Backyard BBQ
During a party, some Southerners will go all out and roast a whole hog, which is known as pig pickin’—the socializing side of things is just as important as the food. They’ll roast the pig slowly over coals all day and when it’s finally done, everyone gets together to pull off tender pieces of meat. It might be a bit shocking for Northerners to see the whole pig laid out but for Southerners, it’s just good eating & great company.
More Than Just a Meal
A fish fry is a big event in many small Southern communities and people come together to fry up the day’s catch, whether it’s at the local church or someone’s backyard. We’re talking crispy, golden catfish or bream, straight from the fryer—everyone brings a side dish or dessert to share. There’s plenty of sweet tea to go around, too. Rather than just a way to enjoy some delicious food, it’s a chance to spend time with neighbors and friends over a simple plate of fried fish.
Cooking Up Poke Sallet in the Spring
Lots of Southerners pick pokeweed (or “poke sallet” as it’s called there) during spring, even though pokeweed is actually poisonous if you don’t prepare it right—but Southerners have that down pat. They boil it just right to make it a tasty green that they love to eat, despite the fact that many Northerners would avoid eating a plant that’s toxic raw. Yet for Southerners, it’s a special treat that they’ve enjoyed for generations and will continue to do so.
Nighttime Frogging Adventures
Some nights, instead of staying in, Southerners grab their headlamps & head out to the swamps or creeks for frogging, which involves hunting frogs. It’s often quite the adventure, wading through the water in the dark and once they see a big bullfrog, they catch it by hand or with a gig. Later, they’ll fry up the frog legs, which might sound odd but for many Southerners, it’s a delicious tradition that also puts food on the table.
Harvesting Muscadines for Homemade Goodness
Muscadine season involves Southerners heading out with buckets to gather these wild grapes, which have a sweet, unique flavor you won’t find in store-bought varieties. Back home, they’ll turn them into all sorts of treats—jams, jellies, and best of all, homemade muscadine wine—as part of long-held family traditions. People from elsewhere don’t know about these special grapes or the joys of crafting your own wine like Southerners do.
Not for the Faint of Heart
Some Southern towns also host rattlesnake roundups every year, where locals go out and catch live rattlesnakes—then, they bring them to the town for displays & demonstrations. It’s almost like a festival, with food stalls, music & crafts celebrating the roundup in a way that’ll shock those who aren’t too keen on snakes. These roundups are a little controversial today, yet they’ve been a part of local tradition for a long time.
Porch Whittling Sessions
You’ll likely see someone sitting on their front porch with a pocketknife and a piece of wood, whittling away on a lazy summer evening. Carving sticks into figures, utensils, or just whittling for the fun of it is a simple activity that gives Southerners a chance to sit quietly & think. It’s a hobby from another time that many people enjoy in the rural South as a relaxing way to spend the day.
Music That Brings Us Together
Music is a big part of life around here and nothing showcases that better than fiddlers’ conventions—these are get-togethers that draw musicians from all over to play their hearts out on fiddles & banjos. There’s some friendly competition and impromptu jam sessions, as well as plenty of dancing, with people of all ages coming out to attend. Most Northerners will probably be surprised by just how passionate Southerners are about their traditional music.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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