The Upper Peninsula was settled, in large part, by Finnish immigrants, and still clings stubbornly to its Finnish heritage. This includes not only knowing the correct way to pronounce a Finnish-derived word such as sauna (it's SOW-nuh, not SAW-nuh), but the willingness to sit in one of these sweatbox torture chambers for hours on end and then follow it up with a plunge into an icy lake.
2. And Also Pasty
The proper way to say pasty is actually PAST-ee, which you've got to admit sounds more appetizing than something reminiscent of that gross white goo you might have used in elementary school. And pasties, which are, like, one of the U.P.'s official main food groups (right up there with beer), most certainly are tasty. (TAST-ee?)
They're flaky pies filled with diced potatoes, rutabagas, carrots, onions and ground beef, brought to you by Cornish miners by way of Finnish miners.
3. What Cudighi Is And Where To Get The Best
When Finland (and Cornwall) ran out of miners to send, the U.P. started importing them from Italy, which led to yet another Yooper food classic: cudighi.
This spicy type of Italian sausage was said to originate in northern Italy, but it's pretty much unknown there now, and in fact many claim the recipe was actually invented right here in Ishpeming. Ishpeming eateries still offer some of the best cudighis: Lawry's Pasty Shop, Congress Pizza, Buck's Restaurant, Ralph's Italian Deli, take your pick, you won't regret it.
4. How To Pimp Out An Ice Shanty
If you're a true Yooper, you're likely to spend half the winter sitting in one of these, so you want it to be nice and homey, ya?
You'll need a few heaters and some lamps (propane or generator-powered) for after-dark fishing, also a battery-powered TV, a coffee pot, a few comfy chairs and/or a couch, maybe a few stuffed fish or sets of antlers to decorate the walls, and a hat rack to hang your Stormy Kromers on.
The one thing you won't need is a beer fridge, though, since you can just stick a few six packs outside the door.
5. When To Put On Your Chooks, Choppers, And Swampers
In da winter, of course, which might mean nine out of the 12 months. A chook is your basic knit beanie hat, choppers are mittens, and swampers are boots with leather uppers and rubber bottoms. Those last ones are actually worn whenever you're likely to encounter mud, i.e., year-round.
6. Sorels Are Appropriate Footwear For All Occasions
Dese Canuck boots are da best kinda swampers. Yoopers went into mourning when the company went bankrupt in 2000, but the brand was revived by Columbia Sportswear in 2009. I recommend the Caribous for everyday wear, but save my Joan of Arctics for dressier events.
7. Trolls Aren't Just People Who Leave Nasty Comments Online
In yooper-ese, "troll" means anyone who lives under the bridge, you know, like in the Three Billy Goats Gruff? Yoopers aren't (usually) referring to big hairy, club-swinging guys, however, they just mean anyone living in da mitten, i.e., downstate.
Besides trolls, these lower peninsula folks are also known as lopers and flatlanders. Unlike the Internet kind, most Michigander trolls are actually quite nice.
8. And A Turdy Poiner Has Nothing To Do With Poop
It's actually the holy grail of deer hunters (and what Yooper isn't?)—a thirty-point buck. Also usually referred to as “the one that got away,” although some Yoopers might tell you they were waiting on a fordy poiner instead.
9. Yelling "Fire" In A Crowded Movie Theater Isn't Remotely Funny
On Christmas Eve 1913, at a social hall in Calumet, someone did just that—and 73 people were crushed to death in the ensuing panic. Turns out there was no fire, nor was it a mistake or a prank gone awry. Instead, it was a deliberate act of anti-union sabotage against the striking miners who were holding a holiday party that night.
The Italian Hall Disaster occurred over a century ago, but Yoopers have memories like elephants and they're still telling the story.
10. What It Means To Have Sisu
Sisu is a Finnish word which roughly means courage, strength, determination, grit—just what Yoopers need to survive the endless winters, freezing temps, hard-hit economy and all that not-so-fun stuff. On the U.P., however, “Sisu” sometimes seems to include an element of sheer insanity, such as taking a Memorial Day dip in waters still swimming with chunks of ice—which is a thing, that they do.
Feature Image Source: Flickr user Ray Dumas
