Southerner's celebrating their Football Team and Tradition

For this weeks blog were are reading Southern Livings blogs and analyzing what aspects of the South they portray. I choose to read a blog called "Tales from the Road" where touring journalists and editors share their experiences. The particular article I read was titled, "A Southern Super Bowl: Share your Plans with Southern Living."

This article began with the journalists experiences in Birmingham in the days before the super bowl. The author commented on the nails of a hair salon owner which she found to express the Pride for her team. The owner has painted her nails gold and placed the Saints fleur-de-lis in the center of each one. This aspect of a person's pride in their team interested the author and she invited Southern fans to write to her and explain how they were supporting their team. It is in these responses from southern families that aspects of the Southern "image" emerge in action.



Here are the excerpts and a little discussion about each:
"Will be surprising my guests with personalized 'Who Dat?' and 'Geaux Saints!' chocolates. Guess you know who I'm routing for!" - Gwen Harris Cloutier

This comment by Ms. Cloutier portrays the idea of Southern hospitality. It shows that Ms. Cloutier is not planning on watching the big game alone in her house but rather is hosting a party and entertaining guests. It almost seems like entertaining her guests is more important than the game!


"I'll be makin' my famous chocolate dipped rice krispie shaped footballs and lot's of cajun gumbo. Who dat gonna git 'dem some good food, yeah!" - Kathy S. Brown

This write in especially reveals the dialect and historical culture of the South, particularly Louisiana area. Ms. Brown writes her dialect into this passage using apostrophes to show the shortening of words and also uses some "southern slang" such as "dat" and " 'dem." She also references the Cajun culture of the New Orleans and Louisiana area and her pride in making and eating food typical of that area.


"We will be having Red Beans and Rice or Crawfish etouffee. I'm sure Boudain will be in there somewhere as well. I made Fleur De Lys sugar cookies for the Saints vs. Cowboys game and they were a big hit." - Valerie Johnston Mellema

This passage again hits on the unique foods of the Cajun culture as well as the idea of Southern hospitality. Ms. Mellema is very proud to be creating typical Cajun dishes such as Crawfish and red beans and rice. She was also proud with the success of her last batch of cookies at entertaining her guests and intends to make them again.


This blog was very unique in that it allowed us to see actual comments, ideas, ways of speaking, and concerns of real Southerners. Even though they have been sifted through and specifically chosen by the Southern Living editors, the fact is that they are original quotes from people who are actually living these aspects of the Southern "image" in their daily lives.


Parker


Photo courtesy of A Southern Super Bowl: Share Your Plans With Southern Living!
at http://talesfromtheroad.southernliving.com/