For people not stick out in Michigan , there are sealed demeanor we of the peninsula exhibit that may seem peculiar to outsider . It goes beyond wearing short circuit and flip - flop in 40 - degree weather . Surrounded by the lake , we ’re a bit disjunct up here , and it seems as though our base may keep wayfarers from bothering to go out of their room to search our territory . Maybe that ’s the cause behind the fact that we ’re some pretty odd birds . But that ’s OK . We amply embrace our oddity , our love , and our perpetual unseasonal flannel wearing . Here are the subject about which any Michigander could utter your ear off , should we be encountered in the wild – you ’ve been warned .
Bob Seger
There is perhaps no better elbow room to determine whether someone is from Michigan or not than to learn the expression on their cheek as Seger ’s puritanical - collar balladry takes hold . If you see someone tear up as soon as the band drop out in “ Night movement , ” you bang they ’re from the Mitten .
Dipping everything in ranch dressing
Second only to the nostalgic force of a summery Seger tune is the Michigander ’s lovemaking of cattle farm dressing . Whether it ’s on wing , tike , pizza , or hell , even birthday bar , you will not find a food Cartesian product that can not be enhanced by dousing it in this undeniably habit-forming and confutable subject matter .
Wearing flannel (even to a wedding)
There is never , nor has there ever been , nor will there ever be , an inappropriate clock time to wear gabardine in Michigan . It ’s the perfect fabric choice for all climatical conditions . There are even purportedly some holidays consecrate specifically to flannel in our Great Lakes State . But as we all cognise quite well : every day in Michigan is Flannel Day .
The Detroit Lions
We ’re not say you should n’t have a go at it the Lions . We ’re just read that it does n’t really make much sense to enjoy the Lions . One might say it ’s almost irrational . However , we have intercourse that you love them . So keep on lovin’ them Lions . peradventure this is their year !
American vs. Lafayette Coney Island
The argument continues . If you ask anyone who grew up in or has spent time in Detroit , they WILL have an opinion for you . ( And it might take neither – shout out to National Coney Island ! )
Detroit (especially people who live nowhere near the city)
speak of which , you ’ll never incur as much Detroit pride as you will from people who do n’t set foot in the metropolis on a unconstipated basis . The further west you go , the more the Detroit pride heightens . But only in persuasion – when it actually come to spending time in the metropolis , it ’s often a unlike level .
Craft beer
Call it artisanal , fancy , or just " not Stroh ’s " – Michigan is one of the working capital of the United States ’ cunning beer movement ( waddup , Grand Rapids , aka Beer City , USA ) . With more than 100 breweries statewide , the land has garner mass of attention over the class for being a lover of highly potent and often flashily flavored soapsuds .
Beef jerky
pass over the dried , salted marrow , and no one will get hurt . This is fundamentally a good mantra to take after while traveling through Michigan . Whether it ’s beef , venison , pork , turkey , or even muskrat ( we would n’t leave you out , Downriver ) – dried , chewy meat has a situation in every carnivorous Michigander ’s fondness .
“Buy American” bumper stickers
The economy of Michigan has ensure near twenty-four hours – it ’s seen worse twenty-four hours , too ( we ’re looking at you , 2006 - 2013 , you perdition of hell , you ) . Most people could distinguish you that Michigan ’s biggest trouble is the retrenchment of its manufacturing base , and a few hoi polloi would mistakenly tell you that it ’s because multitude do n’t " bribe American " anymore . Unfortunately , that ’s not the whole chronicle . As anyone who has n’t been living under a stone should know , a large percentage of “ American ” vehiclesare build overseas . But that does n’t stop us from plaster our bumper with these vinyl radical stickers .
Hockey
It ’s a general rule that in place where it does n’t get cold enough to have ice , the great unwashed do n’t really give a shit about ice hockey … unless , of grade , you ’re talk about Tampa , FL , which has both a field hockey team and a ton of Michigan natives . Hockey is religion in sure parts of the state , as it should be . There ’s nothing more entertaining than barbarity on sparkler . We ’re full proponents of competitiveness at the faceoff .
Labor unions
Ahem … this one is slippery . Wherever you bear when it come to labor jointure , you ca n’t deny that Michigan is one of the states that has been most affected by them over the path of its manufacturing history . significance , you ’ll rarely catch a Michigander who ’s without an opinion when it come to union .
Going “up north”
This is essentially anywhere north of Flint . All Michiganders appropriate the right to view “ up northwards ” a practical resort area of nature activities , or simply drinking beer on a dock . Going “ up magnetic north ” is simply what you do when it ’s 1 ) a vacation weekend , 2 ) a weekend in general , 3 ) summer holiday , 4 ) someone ’s birthday , or 5 ) any excuse for an occasion whatsoever . Many Michiganders have rest home or holding in the northerly reaches of the State Department , but just as many will lug a tent in hunt of their owntranquil paradise .
Using their hand as a map
If you , for some rationality , have any difficulty envision the location of any of the aforementioned place in your headland , reach for a Michigander and they ’ll ever so fain show you exactly where they ’re talking about by using their right hand with eerie accuracy .
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Susan Montgomery/Shutterstock
Bob Seger
Detroit Lions
Flickr/PROBlue Skyz Studios Follow
Blackrocks Brewery
Flickr/Tom Gromak
Flickr/Michigan Municipal League
