Reading about Anglo-Saxons, Scandinavians, German descendents' cultures in Minnesota... (Duluth: transplants, home)

[Camden Northsider]

Originally Posted by nerfer

Nice regurgitation.
I've been at a few weddings in MN, and only at one did people drink.

Wow, conservative family/ friends? It's been the reverse for me, and I've been to a lot of weddings in the state, some where the families were very religiously/ politically conservative, others that were pretty liberal, and both in rural and metropolitan areas - all but one served alcohol (and I'm pretty sure the 'one' was due to the bride or groom being in recovery). In MN the most socially acceptable place for an adult to get drunk (outside of college) is probably a wedding or New Year's Eve celebration.

TexasTenessean - I wouldn't worry about studying up too much, although there are some idiosyncrasies that you will likely become attuned with fairly quickly. The most important upper Midwestern european immigrant (primarily Scandinavian and German) cultural traits that you will likely have to learn are those related to the workplace and/or getting along with your significant other's MN parents (if that might be the case). In the workplace - strong work ethic is a way of life in this part of the Midwest (of which upper midwesterners are famous for when living in other areas of the country), not just in the sense of consistently applying yourself at work, but rather having an innate sense of needing to always stay on task, work efficiently and produce quality results.

Thriftiness is another MN/ upper Midwest virtue - I once heard a Minnesotan man that did pretty well respond to the question "what would you do if you won the loterry?" with - after a long pause - "probably buy a new lawnmower". Not only could he not even imagine doing something extravagant with lottery winnings, but he already could easily have afforded to buy a new lawnmower - since the old one still worked, to him it would have been just too frivolous to buy a new one.

Related to the above - it is not too socially acceptable to be ostentatious or flaunting of one's wealth (this isn't to say that big beautiful homes and luxury cars aren't common in some areas, but they are always pretty tame and reserved in their colors/ design). However, just as Minnehahapolitan mentioned community-mindedness in posts above, and somewhat in contrast to the reserved thriftiness of MNans - philanthropy is very big here. Many Minnesotans, both the wealthy and people of more moderate means, give generously to their favorite causes each year (despite how much you will hear people on this board complain about taxes, many Minnesotans are not only willing to pay more than other states in taxes to maintain a high quality of life here - they are probably more likely, on average, to give more to charitable causes as well).

There's more that you will learn, but Minnesotans are generally very welcoming of everyone and curious to learn about new people and cultures that they may not be too familiar with (and despite the preconceived notions that we're all simpletons up here, you'll likely be surprised to find a lot of culture and well-educated people here). Also, although it's not as long or deeply-rooted of a history, Minnesota does have some pretty interesting African American history dating back to the mid-1800s I believe, and in both rural and Metropolitan areas. You will find a lot of diversity in the core areas of Minneapolis and St. Paul (and you will find grocers in these areas that carry various pig parts that you mention above) and a small smattering of racial/ ethnic diversity in the rural areas throughout the state...suburbs are somewhere in between. Good luck with your studies and move!

[ozzie679]

Originally Posted by Camden Northsider

Wow, conservative family/ friends? It's been the reverse for me, and I've been to a lot of weddings in the state, some where the families were very religiously/ politically conservative, others that were pretty liberal, and both in rural and metropolitan areas - all but one served alcohol (and I'm pretty sure the 'one' was due to the bride or groom being in recovery). In MN the most socially acceptable place for an adult to get drunk (outside of college) is probably a wedding or New Year's Eve celebration.

In my 38 years of life in MN, I've been to one wedding receptions that didn't serve alcohol. I've maybe been to 30 weddings. People danced the Polka at at a majority of those weddings.

Open bar...put it in your budgets!! Your friends and family will speak well of your big day. Rather than calling you a cheapskate behind your backs

[texantennessean]

Originally Posted by asitshouldbe

I am surprised that you are doing research to move here. Just move here. I have not seen a "polka" since I was a kid. That was in the years of the disco. We eat pork and chili and I am sure you can find some gumbo at one of our fine restaurants. We have a very large variety of ethnic restaurants. I would stop doing research if I were you. Preconceived notions could actually do more harm than good.

I was already researching the origins of ethnic groups for an essay I've been working on so it's no biggy. I love researching this kind of stuff. Moving just gave me a reason to research Minnesota and satisfy my inner nerd lol!

[CMartel2]

You've got to listen to the Lewis Black number on how the Scandinavians settled in Minnesota. It's HYSTERICAL.

[rnjulz]

It's "up nort" and they head up the I35 in droves every weekend and all summer long. It is the "state of hockey" with prime time TV being pre-empted for the HS playoffs. Polka is very big in the small cities, especially "up nort" on the Iron Range, but I'm sure it's alive and well in the cities too. Yah, you betcha and uffda are popular Norweigian sayings, but we do not all sound like the cast of Fargo (although I have met people who do and it's hard to keep a straight face). Alexandria is great (where I was born) - used to be a small town, and still is, but in the summer it's one of the biggest resort towns in MN and the population swells - they actually have traffic then. Really! I, personally, have never been to a wedding where there wasn't drinking, and a few of them sent the bride and/or groom to the hospital or the hotel early because of it - "up nort" they have this tradition where the groomsmen steal the bride, and vice versa, and sometimes things get a little crazy. Lutherans are very prominent, as well as their church festivities - especially the food - hot dishes, green jello, etc. And, of course, you can't forget the Norweigian lefse (the best) and ludifisk (the worst). The 10,000 lakes are the best and I can't wait to get my piece of one, and the change of seasons, the green of everything, instead of the brown of desert and non-seasonal areas, the smog-free sky, the great thunder and lightening storms and, yes, the beauty of the snow and the "fun" of a good snow storm can't be beat. I know many of you think I'm crazy, but there are many out there that agree with me too. In Minneapolis you get the cultural mix, but in some of the small towns it can be very surprising how prejudice SOME people still are - very shocking after living in CA for awhile and being "in the mix of things." I moved back there in 2001 and love it. I remember when I first moved back to MN (Hibbing for 5 years before moving to the cities) and someone said hi to me on the street. I was beside myself and very suspicious - that doesn't usually happen in CA. Oh yeah, one of the other things I like is the large lots that houses are on - your neighbor isn't 3 feet way, the rolling yards, mostly without fences, and the fact that you don't need automatic sprinkler systems to keep your grass green. I could go on and on but I've probably gone too far already. As you can probably tell, I LOVE MINNESOTA. Yah, you betcha!

[MidwestWeekender]

Hey, good for you, TexasTennessean. I get a big kick out of all the cultures, too. People think Minnesota is Scandinavian, but it's more German than anything overall. But you've got the pockets of Finns, Swedes, Norwegians and, on the Iron Range, Italians and Eastern Europeans. Wisconsin is better known for polka, and it's a kickin' style, laced with zydeco and mariachi, great for dancing.
There's a lot of history there, much of it sad, but you've got to know it to be a true Minnesotan. Welcome!

[chicken.or.the.nugget]

yeah so nerfer dont ***** at me when i read it off some girls blog who is from MN
and what kind of lame ass weddings do you go to that dont serve alcohol??? and shes part polish so thats probably part of the reason for the polkaing (other part is norwegian)

[chicken.or.the.nugget]

are girls from MN attractive? i find germans/scandanavians and eastern europeans to be the best looking and they are tall which is also a bonus

[JMS_9]

The problem with "researching" a place is books are generally so vanilla and loaded with stereotypes. I'm moving to Boston and I read some books about it. Then, when I actually visited there back in August, realized quickly the books and Internet were a complete waste of time. Everything I read made me think everyone would talk with a thick accent and I'd have trouble finding anything but clam chowder and Sam Adams.

Well, needless to say, I actually had a harder time finding the thick Bawstahn accent than I heard people that sounded like they were from the Midwest or Lousiana or wherever. Just like Boston was nothing like it was portrayed in these worthless books, I'm sure Minneapolis/St. Paul is nothing like what you've been told or read either.

[JMS_9]

I recently had to shoo a photographer off the premises of the Hennepin County Gov't center for taking photos of the building, and he was pretty cordial with us and remarked that he's been all over the country and Minneapolis was by FAR the cleanest and friendliest city he's been in, if that's worth anything to ya.