12 Strange Habits Every Illinoisian Will Defend To The Death

We do many odd things in Illinois, but we don't feel the need to make excuses for our weird habits. That which makes us strange also makes us great. Do you have any of these unique habits? Keep reading to see just how much of an Illinoisian you are.

1. Doing nothing when a tornado siren sounds.

That high-pitched whirring could mean many things. Since the alarm typically goes off in the middle of the day - often when the sky is clear - we know it doesn't always mean danger.

2. Buying fireworks in Indiana.

We can't buy them here, but just across our eastern border, you can get a free Roman candle when you buy 10 fountains. Memorial Day and Fourth of July just wouldn't be the same without a little combustion.

3. Making cheese its own food group.

You can make grilled cheese, fried cheese, cheese and potatoes, cheese soup, a cheese sandwich, cheesecake, cheese balls... You get the idea. In Illinois, we have no shame in making cheese our main course.

4. Saying you're from Chicago when you're actually from the 'burbs.

From Wilmette to Harvey, those of us living in cities just outside Chicago, which most people have never heard of, just make things easier by saying we're from the Windy City. It's not to discredit our fantastic hometowns, but most are just going to ask if it's near Chicago anyway.

5. Measuring distance in hours and minutes instead of miles.

That's really what you need to know, right? Maybe you could figure it out for yourself, but we Illinoisians know the amount of miles doesn't always matter anyway, especially when you're dealing with traffic. For instance, ask us how far it is from one end of the state to the other, and we'll tell you it's about seven hours and fifteen minutes away.

6. Combining caramel corn with cheddar popcorn.

Don't knock it until you try it. Residents of Illinois know better than to apologize for this sweet and salty, genius creation. If there's anything we do great, it's corn.

7. Driving despite weather conditions.

Unless the snow is so high it's hindering your front door from opening, you know your car - and your mad driving skills - can get you to the store and back in one piece. It can snow all winter long here sometimes, so we've learned to adapt.

8. Wearing shorts and flip flops up until it snows.

We don't feel a thing. There's no point in switching your wardrobe too soon because you never know what the weather in Illinois is going to do.

9. Plunging through ice into freezing water.

We'll even dive into freezing water in just our swim suits. Polar bear plunge events are popular all over the state at local lakes and riverfronts. The cold doesn't bother us anyway.

10. Calling it "pop" no matter how much others call it "soda" or "coke."

There's no argument here. A pop is a pop. We know what people mean by soda and soft drink, but in these parts, we take pride in our colloquial term.

11. Claiming the town of Springfield in "The Simpsons" is the same as the one in Illinois.

We have proof. Illinois is the top producer of nuclear power and is home to many plants similar to the one in which Homer works. Additionally, the show has mentioned the nearby town of Shelbyville, and the downtown designs are very similar, to name a few pieces of evidence.

12. Referring to Chicago as "downtown" or "the city."

We're obviously not talking about New York or London, so get over it. Since it's the most popular city in our state, we don't even have to call it by name.

If you've got state pride, check out 13 reasons why anyone who doesn't like Illinois can just shut up!

What strange habits did we leave out? Tell us about your weirdest traditions and routines below!