From elementary through high school, I will never forget the ring of the school bell on the last day before summer and the feeling of freedom and excitement it brought with it. There is really nothing else like a summer in the South. You may think we let that hot, humid heat slow us down but on the contrary that’s when us Southerners are at our best. Everyone has their own traditions that make a summer unique to them but growing up below the Mason Dixon line there are some experiences that everyone can relate to.
As a kid, I remember barefoot, balmy nights with friends, chasing fireflies around my backyard, filling up mason jars with the mystical, glowing creatures. Eventually we would tire ourselves out and end up lying in the grass watching them float above us. To me, the first sighting of lightning bugs always signified the beginning of summer.
Summer in the South makes me nostalgic for neighborhood swim meets, the smell of chlorine and pizza lingering in the air. You were a swim team kid if you know the meaning of “eat my bubbles,” a phrase that took several days and several showers to finally scrub off (why we always used permanent marker… I will never know).
Summer in the South means long days on the water. Wherever you live in The South, there is guaranteed to be a lake, a river, or an ocean close by. As a kid, I remember spending endless days on Lake Lanier exploring the little sandy islands with friends and siblings in a paddle boat, jumping in for a swim when the heat became too much. Summer in the South means golden hair, red cheeks, and a whole lot of sunscreen. Regardless of how much sunscreen your mom doused you in before leaving the house that morning it was never any match for the red-hot southern sun- and the day would always inevitably end in sunburn and aloe vera.
A Southern summer is not complete without a trip down the Chattahoochee- “Shooting the Hooch” we like to call it! Shooting the Hooch was always an adventure that involved tubes (or blow up mattresses… I don’t recommend!), 15 of your closest friends, and a cooler filled with your beverage of choice! The day was always full of laughter as friends were pushed into the chilly water, tubes spontaneously deflated, and coolers found their new homes at the bottom of the river. Everyone would always go home exhausted, happy and full of stories to tell.
The shining star of a Southern summer was always and will always be the Fourth of July. Memories of dancing around with sparklers in hand come to mind. The South goes all out for the Fourth of July- it’s not just a tradition but a religion in these parts! Flags are flown from houses, cars, you name it there is a flag flying from it! Red, White, and Blue attire is the only acceptable uniform. Grilling out has to be done on this day- burgers, hot dogs, and bratwursts will always make an appearance. Personally, my favorite part is the fireworks show- there is nothing like sitting with loved ones with your belly full of delicious food and watching the sky sparkle with red, white and blue.
Let’s not forget about those simple little things that make a summer in The South what it is; days spent on wide front porches drinking sweet iced tea (the sweeter the better- that’s our motto), drinking cold water directly from the garden hose, summer nights spent attempting to camp outside under the stars (attempting being the key word). It is hard to explain but there is just something magical about a summer in The South and I feel lucky that I have gotten to experience that magic growing up in Georgia.
