If You’ve Experienced These 10 Things, You’ve Lived in North Carolina for Far Too Long

If you’ve lived in North Carolina for far too long, you’ve probably experienced these 10 things:

1. Hearing the unique Outer Banks dialect (“Hoi Toide” for High Tide)
   The Elizabethan-sounding coastal speech stands out, especially in the Outer Banks, a distinct part of NC’s local flavor.
2. Running into “dingbat” tourists called “dingbatters”
   Islanders have a nickname for clueless tourists who aren’t used to the local ways, a humorous way to acknowledge tourism impacts.
3. Saying “y’all” and other Southern colloquialisms without thinking
   These classic Southern expressions are so natural that you barely notice them until you meet people from elsewhere.
4. Witnessing deep pride in Appalachian bluegrass and folk music
   Roots music like bluegrass, fiddle, and string bands permeate local culture, with festivals and regular live shows.
5. Seeing extensive, colorful folk art and crafts
   Wood carving, pottery, basketry, needlework, and quilting are common traditions showing up everywhere from mountain towns to city galleries.
6. Belonging to the “Tar Heel” spirit at local college games
   The North Carolina State University Wolfpack and UNC Chapel Hill rivalries create intense, lifelong sports loyalties.
7. Relishing local treats like Cheerwine, Bojangles, and Krispy Kreme
   These brands originated or are beloved in NC, and you quickly develop a taste for their distinct southern flavors.
8. Attending outdoor dramas and historical pageants
   Productions like The Lost Colony on Roanoke Island or The Horn in the West connect residents to state history and culture.
9. Experiencing sudden weather changes in the mountains
   The Appalachian region is notorious for rapid weather shifts, from warm sunshine to sudden fog or rain showers.
10. Using colorful words like “cattywampus,” “wampus cat,” or “sigogglin’”
    These playful dialect words describe crooked or off-kilter things, and hearing them marks a true North Carolinian.

These experiences, from language and music to food and weather quirks, are signs you’ve been part of the North Carolina culture for a long time.

SOURCES

(https://www.britannica.com/place/North-Carolina-state/Cultural-life)
(https://news.ncsu.edu/2018/06/six-nc-expressions/)(https://www.reddit.com/r/triangle/comments/o7vzgw/what_are_some_unofficial_cultural_symbols_of/)(https://yorkfourthgrade.weebly.com/culture-of-nc.html)
(https://www.visitnc.com/arts-entertainment)