Texas Customs and Traditions (Houston, Austin: to buy, live in, club)

[TexasReb]

I might even be a bit surprised if this one hasn't already been done, but taking advantage of the Christmas/Holiday season, I will do it anyway and hope nobody calls me on it!

ANYWAY, I was just wondering about traditions/customs/folkways/etc that y'all -- personally or otherwise -- remember/associate with Texas. Especially "old" Texas...?

Eating black-eyed peas on New Years day is probably THE most widespread and recognized I know of...not only in Texas but throughout the South.

And how many of y'all ever remember saying "Christmas Eve gifts" early on Christmas Eve morning? The first one to say it got to open a present?

Or am I just getting too damn old?

[car957]

Tamales for breakfast on Christmas. To heck with the presents - I live for Christmas tamales.

[TexasReb]

Originally Posted by car957

Tamales for breakfast on Christmas. To heck with the presents - I live for Christmas tamales.

This just goes to show there is always something even a native Texan can learn about Texas and from other Texans!

Are you from south or far west Texas? I never heard of tamales being a Texas Christmas tradition! Kewl!

I guess my raising was more "Southern" as it was scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage (and gravy) and biscuits....and maybe grits!

But anyway, another little Texas custom/tradition is the old "Blue Laws" Anybody remember them? You could buy beer after noon on Sunday....but not laundry soap! ~L~

[KimK]

In El Paso they still only sell beer (or any alcohol) after noon on Sunday. They won't even let me carry in my cart at Sam's Club until noon even if its 11:55 a.m.

[car957]

Hill Country - Austin although I have family in East Texas and the Gulf Coast (Port Lavaca and Victoria). Tamales at Christmas is a tradition in my family and a number of friends here in Austin and Tyler. I remember eating them as a young boy and I'm carrying on the tradition.

We have some really good tacorias in East Austin and some of the ladies at my church make and sell them this time of year. I got about 4 dozen in freezer and I'll steam a couple of dozen on Christmas morning and eat em plain or top them with chile con queso or regular salsa verde.

And I also remember the Blue Laws.

So do you live in a "wet" or "dry" county? Texas (and southern states) liquor laws are funny. Ever had Oklahoma 3.2 beer? Blech.

[TexasReb]

Originally Posted by car957

And I also remember the Blue Laws.

So do you live in a "wet" or "dry" county? Texas (and southern states) liquor laws are funny. Ever had Oklahoma 3.2 beer? Blech.

The one I live in is "wet"...but the next couple east and west are "dry"! ~L~

I never will forget going to Tyler one year for an SCV convention and finding out they didn't sell beer. I found this out when I went into a convience store to buy some beef jerky and slim jims and pig skins...but no beer. I asked the feller behind the counter where I could buy some.

He never blinked an eye...and must have fielded this query a million times before. He pointed out the window and said, almost robotic.." Seven point three miles thataway. Take highway this and that to route somethin or nother and go to Big Sandy"

It is something akin to that Southern Baptists will stagger to the poll and vote the county dry...!

[tstone]

Originally Posted by KimK

In El Paso they still only sell beer (or any alcohol) after noon on Sunday. They won't even let me carry in my cart at Sam's Club until noon even if its 11:55 a.m.

I think this is an all-around Texas state law.

[lonestar2007]

Originally Posted by car957

So do you live in a "wet" or "dry" county? Texas (and southern states) liquor laws are funny. Ever had Oklahoma 3.2 beer? Blech.

Well, don't let it get the least bit warm because it becomes even more foul if you can believe that.

[blueskies49]

Yeah, I remember the blue laws. Rope around some of the off-limits products in some stores! And most stores were closed on Sundays or if they were open, they were closed on Saturdays.

[tstone]

I've heard about blue laws but the Houston area never had them (in the 80s/90s at least). What would they rope off?