Culture is a weird thing. It varies from country to country, state to state, and place to place. Yet, it's pretty easy to lump a certain group of people all into one culture and see the similarities. Take North Carolinians, for example - from using strange words to describe things to giving directions using landmarks (who can trust GPS, anyway?) and even throwing down over some BBQ and/or basketball...these are more than 'habits'. They're part of what it means to be North Carolinian. Here are some of our top picks for strange things people from North Carolina do:

1. Defending our favorite style of BBQ to the death... but secretly trying the other styles (Eastern or Lexington)... and maybe secretly liking them.

Sure, we've met some people who just absolutely hate the vinegar style or vice versa, but with so much amazing BBQ in the state, there's no reason to put oneself in a box and not venture out a bit. We've tried (and featured) amazing BBQ throughout the state!

2. Shutting down the entire world for some snow.

In the Piedmont and eastern regions of the state, snow days are rare...and also sacred. They don't often come about, so when they do, we go all out with absolutely no shame. Sure, we might be terrible at driving and clear the grocery stores out in an apocalyptic panic first, but the prep is just part of the fun. Also...snow parties.

3. Going to the beach. Before a hurricane.

Okay, maybe this strange habit mostly applies to surfers among us, but any seasoned North Carolinian knows that's the time to get the best waves ever, even if the ocean is a bit crazy.

4. Agreeing to disagree...well, sort of.

North Carolina has always been and will probably always be a swing state. The political climate and political divide have made for some interesting developments, though, including some that received national attention!

5. Crying (or swearing!) over basketball.

If you haven't cried over a Duke v. UNC game, can you really call yourself a North Carolinian? Even if you support the Wolfpack, Pirates, or Mountaineers - you've had your fair share of sports stresses and victories too! This is a great state to live in for a sports fan.

6. Taking our out-of-state visitors to a questionable-looking restaurant just to see their faces when we get there and they try the food.

From gas station fried chicken to BBQ from a window somewhere, the best southern cooking comes from tried-and-true establishments. If you have to, say, bring cash with you, even better.

7. Spending as much time as we can outside.

From hiking mountains to lazing on the beach to sitting on the front porch - with so much beauty surrounding us, who on earth would want to stay indoors?

8. Preferring our own words to the actual ones.

Yonder, buggy, clicker, 'mashin' the TV...why use the real-world words when we've invented perfectly acceptable and understandable alternatives? North Carolinian dialect also varies depending on which section of the state you're from. Even as writers with B.A.s in English, we have used 'yonder' and 'ain't' in the same sentence with no shame.

9. 'Supper.'

Just like "yonder", "supper" is also pretty elusive. Mainly a Sunday meal served after church with friends and family, supper isn't quite dinner, but it's also never lunch. Sometimes 'supper' even pops up on a Tuesday when your mom tells you to come down and 'eat your supper.' Supper is a tradition, a meal, a word, a gathering, and fully part of North Carolinian culture.

10. Having a general distrust of GPS.

Maybe this applies more to we 'country folk' who had to navigate long and winding roads before the days of GPS, but growing up with our Grandparents or family members giving us at least ten minutes worth of directions for a two-mile journey (usually with interruptions of shorter, alternative routes from another family member) has ingrained in us that we really can only trust that the blue church will be on the left, the big oak tree on the right, Bojangles in a mile, and a turn a little down yonder after the light after Bojangles. It works for us.

What else do you think 'makes' a North Carolinian? What are, in your opinion, some strange things people from North Carolina do? This is a pretty generalized list; we'd love to know more regional cultures and habits you'll long defend!

New to the state and these cultures - here are 12 things you quickly learn when moving here.