21 Ways Minnesota Is America's Black Sheep... And We Love It That Way
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Betsy Rathburn
Author
Minnesota is a great state – the greatest, if you ask many current and former residents. But there are more than a few peculiar things about Minnesota that truly set our state apart from the rest – even those in close proximity to us. Here are 21 ways Minnesota might just be America’s black sheep – and why we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Winter causes a lot of worry for people with older cars. When cold weather strikes, we need to give our batteries a chance to warm up every so often - or they might not start later.
We sound so unique that there's an entire book about the quirky way that Minnesotans speak - and an entire movie that immortalized it.
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We pride ourselves on being nice, so we have to make sure we live up to it. If you've ever been stuck in the snow and had multiple people stop to help, you know exactly what we mean.
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Others may call it a mullet, but this iconic hairstyle is a classic - at least when it comes to hockey. Players and fans don these when they want to show some true Minnesota pride.
Every year, the best high school hockey teams in Minnesota play in professional arenas to show who's best. In what other state would people take days off of work and school to attend?
So what if everyone else says goose? Gray duck just sounds better, and no one is going to tell us otherwise.
You know what they say. There's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing. In Minnesota, we live by that saying. Bundle up enough, and you can go outside in any weather.
Yes, we know what other states mean when they say casserole. But we don't care. Hotdish is a way of life in Minnesota, and we wouldn't have it any other way.
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People from warmer states might think we're crazy, but how else are you supposed to catch fish in the winter? The truly dedicated will drag a whole house out there for the season.
Yup, that's right. Every year at the Minnesota State Fair, Princess Kay of the Milky Way is painstakingly sculpted entirely out of butter - and people line up to see it.
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Literally everyone. Lakes are a huge part of Minnesota's culture, and everyone has an opinion. Whether you love Lake Superior or you prefer a lesser-known lake, count yourself lucky that we have so many to choose from. Some lesser states - like Maryland - have exactly zero natural lakes.
In what other state can you casually stroll across the Mighty Mississippi? That iconic walk has been taken by generations of visitors to the headwaters in Itasca State Park.
And they're pretty harmonious. Sure, neither city can have a professional city sports team for fear of squabbles, but Minneapolis and St. Paul complement one another perfectly.
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Some of us even have a dedicated broom just for our car. And why not? It works way better than anything else for clearing off a lot of snow.
After a long, dark winter, the warmth just feels so good. And even if it doesn't, we're too excited to see sunshine to complain.
Honestly, it doesn't matter what the hill is made out of. Any chance to take a ride on a sled, a Minnesotan is going to take it.
A booya stew is typically cooked in a large pot and served at community events - especially in small towns. In Minnesota, the booya dinner is a cultural tradition that sets us apart from the rest of the states.
Seriously, who thought lutefisk was a good idea? For some reason, Minnesotans still choke down this fish soaked in lie for reasons unknown to the rest of the country.
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Listen, just because it's not a staple on every Minnesota dinner table doesn't mean Spam isn't important to our state. Many of us have taken the trek down to Austin to learn the interesting history of this Minnesota product. It's just another reason Minnesota is special.
You'd think this would be a common way to battle the cold in other places with harsh winters. Sadly for them, that is not the case. Our system of skyways helps people travel through Minneapolis and St. Paul without having to go outside. Maybe these tunnels are the real reason we're called the Gopher State?
If you've ever attended a party in this state, you know the Minnesota goodbye is a real thing. If you really want to leave on time, you'll have to start your goodbyes at least 45 minutes before you need to go. But that just goes to show you how much we care.
We may be weird, but we love it here. What’s your favorite Minnesota quirk? If you love the Land of 10,000 Lakes, check out this list of why Minnesota state is the best.
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