Growing up in a small town in south Arkansas—so small and rural, even finding it on the map is a challenge—I was raised to believe that hospitality isn’t a choice. It’s more of an institution in my household, where we abide by Southern rituals and customs beyond swinging on the front porch, sipping on sweet tea, and gathering together on Sunday for a sit-down potluck supper.
While most would define Southern hospitality as being neighborly and welcoming family, friends, and, yes, even strangers into our homes, the catch-all term comes with myriad definitions. In fact, one survey conducted by Twiddy narrowed it down to six definitive qualities, with politeness and down-home cooking topping the list, as well as the Southern states that are the most (and least) hospitable.1 Here, we explore those six primary characteristics of Southern hospitality that are as consistent as our famously hot summers.
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