Reading about Anglo-Saxons, Scandinavians, German descendents' cultures in Minnesota... (Nelson: house, construction)

[uptown_urbanist]

The Twin Cities are far more diverse than many people (outside of Minnesota) realize. I can't speak to the rest of the state. Yes, you'll encounter some new foods - or at least have the chance to buy them in the grocery store (Norwegian cheeses readily available, lefse at the market, annual articles in the newspaper about lutefisk, that sort of thing) but there are also increasingly many other options available, too. I never had a cabin, never went "up north," never went ice fishing, would NEVER say uff da or tell an Ole and Lena joke, but I guess those things are part of the MN culture. (not necessarily the reality for many, but a larger shared concept of MN. Not that I wouldn't mind a cabin to visit, especially when it gets hot and humid - not LA hot and humid, but hot all the same!) Make sure to visit the Minnesota State Fair - it's the best available look at Minnesotan culture, past and present, and from all parts of the state.

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Polka don't happed at even wedding dances any longer. 30 years ago it was a must at every wedding. Over the past 10 years, I have not heard even one polka.

Like the rest of the country, our "culture" has been water down from out of state and out of country transplants. Additionally, we are loosing our grand parents to old age which traditionally spoke the native language. We are now basically a melting pot but more homogeneous that warm states.

Cultures are still much stronger on the Iron range where there are a lot of Finnish and Slovakian decent and a higher population of senior people. In da Range you will still find a strong level of support for your ethnicity. My last name ends in "ala" and I am 75% Finn. When I had a lake property near Duluth, a Finn walked up to me in a lecture-type voice and explained that if I need ANYTHING to let him know because Finns "up hear" stick together. It was the 4th of July so a few drinks were consumed so I assume the true feelings were flowing. I asked my Dad about this who grew up in Ely and he said that was the way it was in his day. My Mother then said that teachers had favoritism in the 50's based off of your ethnicity. In fact, I had a 60 year old teacher in 1982 who stopped the class on the 1st day and reading my name in role call saying she was a UPer in MI and a Finn. She proudly touted the UP (Upper Peninsula) is where the best Finn's reside. That was part tong-and-cheek and partly her beleif.

So if you want to study our culture. What Fargo (the movie) over and over.

[mrconfusion87]

I personally find Minnesota to be THE MOST INTERESTING state in the US!

[backstaber]

how limited information
orleans ; starts all over again from crookston to montreal

[CrystalIce]

I would suggest going to Barnes and Noble or some other bookstore (you may have to go online) and get the book "How to Speak Minnesotan". This will get you up to speed on how we talk faster than anything else. I worked with someone that was from down south and she had to look up some of our sayings. She said that sometimes she would come home from work and her and her husband would both have things that people said at work that they weren't really sure what it meant. It was actually pretty funny. You will find some small towns are very deep in certain cultures - like in Mora, MN they actually have a very large Dala Horse in the middle of town and they have the vasalopet and other very scandinavian things. But what I find very interesting is that you don't find a lot of scandinavian themed restaurants.

[ozzie679]

Originally Posted by MN-Born-n-Raised

Polka don't happed at even wedding dances any longer. 30 years ago it was a must at every wedding. Over the past 10 years, I have not heard even one polka.

Really? The last wedding that I attended (University Club) they played at least 4-5 polkas.

[XXclimberX]

Originally Posted by mrconfusion87

I personally find Minnesota to be THE MOST INTERESTING state in the US!

I hope your joking.

[Clifford63]

Originally Posted by XXclimberX

I hope your joking.

Are you one of those cannuck fans that hates MN because the cannucks can't make it past the conference semis? How about them blackhawks.

[3-Oaks]

You don't have to be drunk to polka....in fact it's probably safer if you're not drunk. LOL!

There were several polkas played at each of the last 2 weddings I went to. Probably more 'small-town' type rather than 'big city' folks still dance it, and still teach their kids if they don't learn it in school yet.

Originally Posted by chicken.or.the.nugget

i was reading on some girls blog from northern, rural MN (grand rapids) and she said that at weddings when everyone is drunk they polka. And people say Uff da lol. She said the major religions are Catholicsm and Lutheranism, and that people "go up north" in the summer

[nardogMN]

dude i think minnesota has one of the highest rates in bachelors