1. Mississippians Take Massive Pride In Having Supported The Troops Since Before It Was Cool
You can’t kick a rock in Mississippi without hitting something of historical significance.
Home of Vicksburg National Military Park, Mississippi was the second state to leave the Union and was instrumental in forming the Confederacy. This is one of the reasons that rebel pride is still so prevalent today.
However, after the war ended, the oh-so patriotic residents of Columbus, Miss. honored troops from both sides, which eventually evolved into the Memorial Day that we celebrate today.
2. Mississippians Let Their Confederate Flag Fly
The Confederate flag is a common sight in Mississippi. People sport it proudly on their T-shirts, fly flags from their porches, and even put bumper stickers of it on their cars.
To out-of-towners, this often seems a bit off-color, but any Mississippian will tell you that the reason they keep it around is solely for the sake of preserving their heritage.
3. Mississippians Exclaim, “Oh The Humidity!” On A Regular Basis
Mississippi, home of hot, humid nights. The summers are long here and the winters—well they hardly ever show up. Average temperatures in the summer are around 81 degrees Fahrenheit with winter months in the mid-40s.
While the humidity is not for wimps, as locals will tell you it’s nothing a glass of Mississippi Punch won’t help. That’s cognac, bourbon, dark rum, and lemon juice, in case you were wonderin’.
4. Mississippians Root, Root, Root For The Away Team
Because Mississippi doesn’t have any pro teams of their own, sports fans often struggle to pick a favorite. Usually fans end up rooting for a team from a nearby state. For example, NFL fans in Mississippi usually place their alliance with the New Orleans Saints. If it’s not them, they’ll cheer for the Tennessee Titans or Atlanta Falcons.
But who really cares about the NFL, when you’ve got college football…
5. Win The Golden Egg, Or Leave With Egg On Your Face
One of the longest standing rivalries in college football is that of the Mississippi Bulldogs and the Ole Miss Rebels. Every Mississippian knows what side they’re on and is willing to fight for their team.
The only real way to resolve the argument over which team is superior is who wins The Egg Bowl and leaves the game triumphantly with the The Golden Egg. Well it ends the argument for a year, anyway.
6. Holy Moly! Mississippi Is Super Religious
Religion plays a huge role in lives of folks in Mississippi—in fact 61 percent of Mississippians polled consider themselves to be “very religious.” This state is home to one of the largest Baptist populations in the world and it’s also home to the largest Bible-binding plant in the country, the Norris Bookbinding Company. So yeah, the people of The Magnolia State are definitely feeling the spirit.
7. Hope You’a Fixin’ Ta Learn Fo’ra New Accent
Mississippi is just about as “Southern” as it gets—especially when it comes to they speak. You see, Mississippians are have that oh-so sweet southern drawl that is frequently imitated, but rarely ever done well.
Now, keep in mind that the different areas of Mississippi don’t all sound the same, but there seems to be a common theme. The first step to drop the “g” from “-ing.” Next, you drop the “r” from conjunctions like “they’re” so that they now sound like “they.” And last, the “o” is a weird letter, but usually it’s long, like the “o” in “bowl.”
8. Mississippians Are Hooked On Fishing
Not only do Mississippians love to hunt, but with so many awesome water sources, they also love to fish. The Mississippi River remains a popular fishing spot, thanks to plentiful numbers of bass, bluegill, and (of course) catfish to catch.
9. Kids Learn How To Shoot A Gun Before Walking In Mississippi
A Mississippian loves their shotgun almost as much as they love their Bible, and they love their camo almost as much as they love their rebel flags.
This is a state full of hunters—and if someone’s not a hunter, chances are they’re still a great shot. This is no doubt thanks to the massive amount of wildlife in the state which makes it a great place to hunt everything from deer, to wild hogs, to gators.
Directly related, Mississippians are also great at having huge cookouts.
10. In Mississippi Catfish Is Purr-fect For Any Meal
Mississippi is the catfish capital of the world, in fact it’s the largest producer of domestic catfish. Mississippians have fully embraced this part of their economy, making deep-fried catfish a staple on every menu. Complete with a side of hush puppies, it’s a dinner that can’t be beat. Just watch out for the tiny bones at your next fish fry.
11. Pecan You Ever Really Get Enough Mississippi Mud Pie?
Well-known for their gooey, chocolaty “Mississippi mud pie,” if Mississippi is really, really good at anything its good satisfying your sweet tooth. Other hometown favorites include pralines, Cajun fried pecans, sweet potato pie, and pecan pie. Yum, yum, and yum!
12. Darth Vader Is From Mississippi…
James Earl Jones, famous for voicing Darth Vader in “Star Wars” hails from Arkabutla, Miss. His long acting career has led to him being known as “one of America’s most distinguished and versatile” actors to ever grace the Hollywood scene. And every Mississippian is more than happy to claim him as their own.
13. And So Is Kermit The Frog’s Dad
Green and fuzzy, Kermit is everyone’s favorite Muppet. What most Muppet fans don’t know is that the voice of their favorite frog is straight from the Magnolia State. Jim Henson was born in Greenville, Miss.
14. Mississippi Is The Only State With Its Very Own Rock Royalty
The king of rock ’n’ roll that is—Elvis was born in the humble town of Tupelo, Miss. Making him one of the great musicians—like B.B. King, Muddy Waters, and… Lance Bass—who have called Mississippi their home state. Elvis’ bluesy rock style reflects his early life in Mississippi, home of the harmonica and slide guitar. So, ya know, you’re welcome world.
15. You Can Thank Mississippi For Bottled Coke
Speaking of things that the world should be grateful for, while Coke wasn’t invented in Mississippi, Biedenharn Candy Company was the first place where it was bottled.
What, not good enough for you? Well think of it this way, without their dedication to making the soft drink portable, Coke might not have become the most popular drink in the world. So again, you’re welcome world.
16. Sucking Out The Brains En Masse, Doesn’t Suck
For the last 20 years, the Coliseum Crawfish Music Festival has been the tastiest music fest around. As attendees pound through more than 20,000 pounds of brightly colored crawfish, they’re accompanied with great music, exciting rides, cash competitions, and cold drinks.
17. There’s This Thing Called The Slugburger…
This local delicacy is similar to a hamburger, except instead of being made of just beef, soybean grits are added as well. Instead of being grilled, it’s deep fried. In some parts of Mississippi, they prefer doughburgers, which are basically the same thing , except flour and egg is substituted for the soybean grits.
If you’re really loving this local treat, each summer Corinth holds the “Slugburger Festival,” with live music, rides, and plenty of deep fried slugburgers to go around.
18. Margaritaville Ain’t Got Nothing On Mississippi
What with the subtropical Mississippi weather, it’s no surprise that the margarita loving pirate himself spent his formative years in Pascagoula. Mississippi residents still take pride in knowing Jimmy Buffet always be one of them.
19. Mississippi’s Christmas Is Unmissable
Complete with a parade, a lighted town, and fireworks, the “Christmas in the Pass” celebration in Pass Christian, Miss. helps keep the holiday cheer going strong. Fun for the entire family, the festival is right on the Gulf Coast and has been a success for over 30 years!
20. Mississippi Shore Has Some Beautiful Shorelines
The Gulf Islands National Shoreline offers visitors stretches of white beaches, marshes and dense forests, making it an ideal summertime location. Even though some areas are still suffering from recent oil spills, it’s easy to find a clean stretch to set up camp.
21. Dear Football Fans, Brett Favre Is From Mississippi—You’re Welcome
Before he was setting any NFL records Brett Favre was perfecting his skills in the small town of Kiln, Miss.
22. Teach A Man To Fish, And You Will Feed A State
For 33 years, Biloxi, Miss. has hosted the “Biloxi Seafood Festival,” attracting more than 25,000 hungry visitors. Aside from hosting a gumbo championship, there’s also plenty of jambalaya, shrimp, and fried fish to fill up the festival-goers.
23. Chicken + Waffles = A Mississippi Masterpiece
Everyone knows that Chicken and Waffles is a perfect combo, and nobody does it better than Mississippi—especially if you are ordering this Southern delicacy at the Downtown Cafe in Jackson.
24. Mississippians Love To Cruise The Coast In Style
Hundreds of automobile enthusiasts flock to Mississippi every year for the “Cruisin’ the Coast” festival. What has been called the “America’s Largest Block Party” attracts over 7,000 cruisers seeking to take a 30-mile scenic shoreline drive in their hot rods, classics, and antique rides.
The weekend is sure to give a true taste of old school Mississippian culture, consisting of rock ’n’ roll, drag races, and sock hops.
25. Mississippi’s Art Scene Will A-Muse You
The small coastal town of Ocean Springs has become a sort of mecca for artists and craft makers. The town is full of various art galleries and studios, as well as offering opportunities to experience Mississippi’s religious history via old, beautiful churches.
Basically, if you need some inspiration point yourself in the direction of Ocean Springs and get your butt over here.
26. Friendliness Runs Through The Hearts Of Mississippi
Maybe it has something to do with southern hospitality, but one thing that surprises most out-of-towners about Mississippi is how friendly the people are here.
Raised to be polite at all costs, Mississippians are the epitome of the “southern belle” and the “dapper gentleman.” Combined with the diverse natural beauty, stretching from the coasts to the rolling foothills, the people of Mississippi make the Magnolia State a great place to call home.
What do you love about living in Mississippi? Leave a comment and let us know!
