Southern Hospitality: 4 Must-Have Traits

When you grow up in the South, one of the first things you learn is how to be hospitable. In fact, mastery of southern hospitality is expected by the time you reach adulthood.  Many of us learn these skills from our parents and grandparents, who help us grow into proper ladies and gentlemen! If you’re looking for a quick refresher, then check out some of these essential traits for perfect southern hospitality!

Politeness

First thing’s first, you have to mind your manners! No matter how old that you are, 6 or 36, being polite will always help you out. In today’s society, we are expected to treat people the way we want to be treated and show respect. A simple “please” or “thank you” can go a long way. In the South, to show our southern hospitality we use “sir” or “ma’am” after all of our yes or no answers.

Thoughtfulness

It would surprise you to see how the smallest gestures of thoughtfulness and kindness can make someone’s day. Whether you are holding the door for the person behind you, offering your chair, picking something up that someone has dropped or even giving someone who is lost directions to their destination, there are many small ways to show kindness to everyone. A great way to show kindness and add a personal touch is to send handwritten thank-you notes. This simple gesture doesn’t take long to complete, but it can have a long-lasting effect. Personal touches like this seem to be fading from people’s minds, but definitely should not be overlooked.

Food

Something that always stands out to Southerners is food. In the South, it is a normal occurrence to gather around the table with friends and family and enjoy a good, home-cooked meal. Growing up, many people can say that they watched their family members cook meals big enough to feed an army. It is a custom here to feed anyone in need of a hot meal. Whenever someone has just lost a loved one, been in a bad accident or had a baby, then it can mean a lot to take over a casserole or a meal that is easy to reheat.

This is a way to show that you’re thinking of someone, and it is one of the kindest gestures that Southerners can offer: feeding the body and the soul. A tip for sharing food is to use disposable dishes, that way you don’t have to worry about having anything returned to you!

Friendliness

After the food, our friendliness is what shows true Southern hospitality! In the South, we like to wave at someone passing us on the road and flash a quick smile or nod when walking down a grocery store aisle. Southerner’s always make sure to greet you in a way that makes you truly feel welcome. Down south there is no such thing as strangers, just a new friend that we haven’t met yet!

These are just a few of the traits that show what it means to be a true Southerner. Y’all will just have to visit us down here in Liberty County to experience the friendliness, food, thoughtfulness, politeness and even more of that Southern hospitality! We are sure that we won’t disappoint. Y’all come see us!