1. Keep It Simple: “PA”
There’s no need to say the full name of something when only two letters are enough to let everyone know you’re talking about the Keystone State.
2. We’ll Never Stop Loving Penn State
Come bad seasons or controversy, nothing will stunt the die-hard love that every Penn State fan shares for this school. Once you’re a fan of the Nittany Lions, you’re stuck with them for life.
3. Our Cities Are Huger And Awesomer Than You Thought
People tend to forget about Pennsylvania while their planning their next touristy getaway. On the contrary, the big cities here are definitely worth a visit, as they’re two of the coolest places to be in the country.
4. But Don’t Forget, There’s Tons Of Rural Space
One thing that’s particularly nice about PA is that its landscape presents the best of both the urban and rural worlds. If the big city life isn’t for you, it’s pretty easy to find a small town that will make you happy.
5. Quit Complaining About Buggies
Nestled in the heart of the Midwest, Pennsylvania is one place where it’s not uncommon to encounter horse-powered vehicles on the road. Try not to get too annoyed, it’s an easy pass as soon as you get the chance.
6. Dutch Isn’t Always Dutch
When you hear the term “Pennsylvania Dutch”, it’s easy to be misled into thinking that these people come from the Netherlands. This isn’t really the case, as this population is made up of the descendants from early German settlers.
This confusing term comes from the German word Deutsche which was originally used to describe people from both Germany and Holland years ago. Today, its dual meaning has been lost.
7. No, Nittany Lions Aren’t A Made Up Thing
Huge mountain lions actually roamed Mount Nittany in Centre County up through the end of the 19th century. It’s only right that they’re commemorated in some sort of way.
8. Beach Life Is A Reality Here
While Pennsylvania might not butt up to an oceanside shoreline, the state’s neighbor, New Jersey, does. Taking a trip down to the shore is a regular summer pastime around these parts.
9. Of Course Everyone Isn’t Actually Sick On The Opening Day Of Hunting Season
There’s a huge hunting population in Pennsylvania, meaning tons of people tend to skip work come the opening day of hunting season. Try to cut people some slack for using their hard-earned sick days doing something they actually enjoy.
10. No One Agrees On Where To Find The Best Cheesesteak
Most locals will agree that Pat’s and Geno’s are pretty touristy, but besides that it’s an all-out war. You’ll find people willing to fight over their opinion that places like Dalessandro’s serve up the best cheesesteaks in town.
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11. We’ll Never Stop With The “Youse” And “Yinz”
Similar to the Southern “y’all,” the Pittsburgh “Yinz” and the Philly “Youse” tend to sneak their way into conversations all around this state. It might be confusing to out-of-towners, but these regional terms are here to stay.
12. Try Scrapple Before Demanding To Know What’s In It
Alright, it’s made with what’s mostly a mush of pork scraps…but don’t think that makes it any less delicious.
13. Fireflies Don’t Bite!
Known for bringing life to the night scene of the PA countryside, there’s no reason to fear these little bugs with neon butts. Worst case scenario, they might poop on you if you catch them.
14. Yes, We Know Our Pretzels Are Huge
There’s no pretzel in the world like the one’s you’ll find around the Philly area. Huge, soft, and delicious, this is one snack that’s hard to beat.
15. Quit Hating On Punxsutawney Phil
Every year come Groundhog’s Day, there are plenty of cynics that love to point out that a groundhog can’t actually predict the weather. OBVIOUSLY. This is one event that’s all about tradition, Pennsylvanians have a modern understanding of how weather works.
16. We’re Well Aware We’ve Got Some Funny Town Names
This one always gets brought up during long drives through the Keystone State. Everyone here is well aware that there are towns named Intercourse, Blue Ball, and Big Beaver. Get used to the simple fact that Pennsylvanians are just better at naming towns.
17. No One Knows What Phillie Phanatic Is
He’s got two legs, green fur, and a giant snout…he’s clearly not from this planet. Even though people can’t pin down what exactly this Phillie Phanatic character is supposed to be, there’s mad love for this baseball mascot around these parts.
18. Pot Pie Isn’t A Pie At All
The rest of the country is still getting Pot Pie wrong, it’s not supposed to actually be a pie. In Pennsylvania it’s a soup with noodles, meat, and veggies…no pastry included.
19. The Word “Terrible” Is A Source Of Pride
While “terrible” might have a bad connotation in most states, here’s it’s all about showing support for the beloved Pittsburgh Steelers.
20. Wawa Or Sheetz, Pick A Side
People in PA love their convenient store stops, unfortunately they can’t agree on the same place. If you’re on the Eastern side of the state, it’s all about Wawa, elsewhere its Sheetz.
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21. The Eagles Fans Don’t Deserve All That Hate Anymore
One of the most hated teams in professional football, NFL fans love to hate on the Eagles. They don’t just stop at the team either, often dragging the fans into the debate as well.
While Eagles fans might be some of the most die-hard around, they’re not the evil creatures that the national sports media makes them out to be.
22. “Why Are Those People Dressed Like That?”
Known for their crazy costumes and crazier antics, Mummers are definitely a special breed of people. Made up of musicians, actors, and other performers, this joy-filled troupe is well known around Pennsylvania for holding a huge New Year’s Day parade in Philly every year, said to be the oldest folk festival in the country.
23. These Pirates Probably Won’t Steal Your Loot
Another Pittsburgh team, the Pirates rule the diamond in this city. Even if someone from Pittsburgh isn’t a fan of the sport, they’ll still probably have some Pirates gear in their closet.
24. For The Last Time, It’s A Hoagie
While the rest of the country is off calling these huge, meaty sandwiches “submarines”, most people in Pennsylvania choose to use “hoagie,” a term that stems from the Philly region.
25. Don’t Go To The Grocery Store Expecting To Buy All Your Booze
Some weird liquor laws in Pennsylvania ban grocery stores from selling wine and hard alcohol. You’ll have to hunt down a liquor store if you’re looking to stock up for a big party.
26. Birch Beer IS NOT Root Beer
People are always shocked when they take a sip of some Pennsylvania birch beer only to discover it tastes nothing like A&W or Barq’s. Just because both drinks are non-alcoholic and have the word “beer” in their name doesn’t mean they’re the same thing.
Root beer’s flavoring comes from the root of a sassafras tree. Birch beer gets it’s flavoring from birch sap (which is kind of a no-brainer, guys).
27. Quit Complaining About The City Traffic
Pennsylvanians are already well aware that traffic can get pretty nasty in their bigger cities. Complaining doesn’t make the traffic move any faster and it just makes it worse for everyone else in the car.
28. Quit Saying Tastykakes Are Junk Food
A favorite snack item here, it’s practically a sin to put Tastykakes in the “junk food” group despite the fact that they’re really just desserts in plastic wrap. When something is loved as much as Pennsylvanians love these treats, dissing it won’t fly.
These aren’t Twinkies so stop talking about them like they are, okay?
29. Don’t Knock Our Bologna ‘Til You Try It
Why are people so afraid of bologna?
Lebanon bologna might have a funny name, but it packs a serious punch when it comes to flavor. Made-up of cured sausage, it looks a lot like salami but has a very distinctly tangy bite.
30. We Love It In PA So Don’t Ask Why
People in the Keystone State have plenty to brag about. With awesome sports teams, plenty of insanely delicious food, and two of the coolest cities in the country, it’s no surprise that the people here love it so much.
What are you exhausted explaining about Pennsylvania? Tell us in the comments below!
