South Carolina is where sweet tea flows stronger than water, humidity counts as a personality trait, and traditions run deep. To locals, these habits make perfect sense. To outsiders, they sometimes look like a charming mix of heatstroke, sugar addiction, and Southern stubbornness.
Table of Contents
1. Treat Sweet Tea Like It’s Holy Water
It’s not a drink—it’s a lifestyle. Unsweet tea doesn’t even count as tea here.
2. Fry Everything That Can Be Fried
Green tomatoes, okra, Oreos—if it exists, someone’s dunked it in hot oil and called it dinner.
3. Wave at Everyone (Even Strangers)
On the road, on porches, in parking lots—South Carolinians wave to everyone. Outsiders think it’s weird. Locals call it manners.
4. Call Shopping Carts “Buggies”
You’ll hear it in grocery stores everywhere. Outsiders look around for actual insects.
5. Have Strong Opinions About Barbecue Sauce
Mustard-based in the Midlands, vinegar-based in the Lowcountry, tomato-based upstate—and each region thinks theirs is the only correct answer.
6. Plan Entire Weekends Around Football
Gamecock or Tiger? Choose wisely. Outsiders don’t realize the rivalry could end friendships.
7. Treat Boiled Peanuts Like a Delicacy
Outsiders call them slimy. South Carolinians call them perfect.
8. Give Directions Using Churches Instead of Street Names
“Turn left at the Baptist church” works better than Google Maps here.
9. Decorate Everything With Palmetto Trees and Crescents
Flags, tattoos, t-shirts—it’s the unofficial uniform of the state.
10. Panic Over One Snowflake
Half an inch of snow? Shut it all down. Outsiders laugh; locals stock up on bread and milk.
11. Have Family Recipes Older Than the State Itself
Fried chicken, collard greens, shrimp and grits—every dish has a “secret” ingredient someone’s grandma swears by.
12. Casually Host Oyster Roasts Like Backyard BBQs
Outsiders see a slimy mess. Locals see a perfect Saturday night…