You did it, your parents did it, but no one knows who started it. These Kansas traditions will be passed on to our kids, and to their kids as well. Why shouldn’t they? They make the whole state feel like a home. What traditions do your family have?
- Cruisin'
Connie Ma/Flickr Whether we’re upset, bored, or hanging out with friends, cruising is something we just do. Honk at your friends!
- Waving to people you see – whether you know them or not!
Blondinrikard Fröberg/Flickr Inside, outside, wherever. Kansas is so friendly that we don’t need to know you to say hello.
- Knowing your neighbors
Bart Everson/Flickr Making friends with your neighbors can mean making friends for life. Most people don’t move around too much, and friendly neighbors can make the difference between a noise complaint and a helping hand when you need it.
- Gifting casseroles to those in tough times.
Upendra Kanda/Flickr Funerals and new babies mean casseroles to help out, giving them one less thing to worry about when they’re in times of trouble.
- Church meals
DonnaHollywood/Flickr Anyone else have that warm family church potluck every month or so? Everyone plans to bring a dish, side, or dessert and has a great time.
- Sunday family dinner
U.S. Department of Agriculture/Flickr Sundays are sacred family time, where most people don’t have to work and everyone can come together and talk about the week’s events.
- Anything is crock-possible.
Trevis Rothwell/Flickr Bread, cake, pudding, soup, roast, pasta, what CAN’T be made in a crockpot?
- Cooking as a group
Patrina_io/Flickr If you’re in the kitchen while food is cooking, you’d better be helping! I know I’ve heard this one quite a few times. Cooking together is always like a rite of passage for Kansans.
- Bowl games are for everyone.
alli/Flickr Family and friends come together to watch the bowl games, sometimes for teams they don’t even care about. It’s practically another holiday, with as much food as I’ve seen at some of these parties.
- The Kansas Olympic sport called Cornhole
Nathan Rupert/Flickr Family and fun seem to be a huge theme with Kansans, and Cornhole is probably the most competitive game I’ve ever played with family.
- All’s welcome at a rodeo.
Becky McCray/Flickr Whether you’re from the city or the winner of last year’s rodeo, this place has fun for everyone. Who doesn’t wanna see some ropework? It’s harder than it looks!
- State and County Fairs are an experience.
mr.outdoorguy/Flickr The glory and fried goodness of the state fair has to be in my top 3 things everyone in town does during the summer. If you’re not at the fair, where are you?
- Show me the honey.
Kelly The Deluded/Flickr Whether you get them from the renaissance faire, the state or county fair, or your local farmer’s market, these sticks are sure to bring you back to your childhood in the best of ways. I don’t remember ever not having them!
- Zucchini Season
Stephanie Richard/Flickr You might find some on your porch one day. Your church, your neighbors, your friends at work, everyone has some.
- Measuring distance in hours
Ken Lund/Flickr How far’s that from here? Oh, about an hour. Makes sense to me! Traditions like this are definitely used by everyone around here.
- Summer kite flying
John Leszczynski/Flickr When you’re old enough, you get to learn how to fly a kite from the masters (your parents, probably.) We’ve got to use this wind for something!
- Truck bed stargazing
David DeHetre/Flickr Take an old mattress and put it in your truck bed. Add some blankets and a short drive to a dirt road, and you’re set for a great night.
How many of these does your family do? Read more “just Kansas things” in 19 Classic Meals From Kansas That Are Just Like Mama Used To Make.
Connie Ma/Flickr
Whether we’re upset, bored, or hanging out with friends, cruising is something we just do. Honk at your friends!
Blondinrikard Fröberg/Flickr
Inside, outside, wherever. Kansas is so friendly that we don’t need to know you to say hello.
Bart Everson/Flickr
Making friends with your neighbors can mean making friends for life. Most people don’t move around too much, and friendly neighbors can make the difference between a noise complaint and a helping hand when you need it.
Upendra Kanda/Flickr
Funerals and new babies mean casseroles to help out, giving them one less thing to worry about when they’re in times of trouble.
DonnaHollywood/Flickr
Anyone else have that warm family church potluck every month or so? Everyone plans to bring a dish, side, or dessert and has a great time.
U.S. Department of Agriculture/Flickr
Sundays are sacred family time, where most people don’t have to work and everyone can come together and talk about the week’s events.
Trevis Rothwell/Flickr
Bread, cake, pudding, soup, roast, pasta, what CAN’T be made in a crockpot?
Patrina_io/Flickr
If you’re in the kitchen while food is cooking, you’d better be helping! I know I’ve heard this one quite a few times. Cooking together is always like a rite of passage for Kansans.
alli/Flickr
Family and friends come together to watch the bowl games, sometimes for teams they don’t even care about. It’s practically another holiday, with as much food as I’ve seen at some of these parties.
Nathan Rupert/Flickr
Family and fun seem to be a huge theme with Kansans, and Cornhole is probably the most competitive game I’ve ever played with family.
Becky McCray/Flickr
Whether you’re from the city or the winner of last year’s rodeo, this place has fun for everyone. Who doesn’t wanna see some ropework? It’s harder than it looks!
mr.outdoorguy/Flickr
The glory and fried goodness of the state fair has to be in my top 3 things everyone in town does during the summer. If you’re not at the fair, where are you?
Kelly The Deluded/Flickr
Whether you get them from the renaissance faire, the state or county fair, or your local farmer’s market, these sticks are sure to bring you back to your childhood in the best of ways. I don’t remember ever not having them!
Stephanie Richard/Flickr
You might find some on your porch one day. Your church, your neighbors, your friends at work, everyone has some.
Ken Lund/Flickr
How far’s that from here? Oh, about an hour. Makes sense to me! Traditions like this are definitely used by everyone around here.
John Leszczynski/Flickr
When you’re old enough, you get to learn how to fly a kite from the masters (your parents, probably.) We’ve got to use this wind for something!
David DeHetre/Flickr
Take an old mattress and put it in your truck bed. Add some blankets and a short drive to a dirt road, and you’re set for a great night.
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