Comments on: Curious, Bizarre & Storied State Symbols

By: evan

evan — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:55:53 +0000

Nebraska for the win! I love Kool-Aid

By: MoodyMoody

MoodyMoody — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 03:53:16 +0000

We in North Carolina aren’t quite as high-falutin’ as Maryland; our official sport is stock-car racing. And we have an Official Carnivorous Plant: the venus flytrap.

By: Princess Mom

Princess Mom — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 05:43:09 +0000

Euripides the Younger wrote:”New Jersey’s state legislature passed “the unofficial youth anthem” a few years ago: Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run.”

Doesn’t that make it the *official* “unofficial youth anthem”???

And the correct answer to the “red or green” chile question is: Christmas! (both red and green)

By: ohepi

ohepi — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 22:53:24 +0000

Paul, you made me laugh so hard. I’m a Louisianian and anytime someone says “crayfish” that’s EXACTLY what I say– “IT’S craWfish!”
God, that made me laugh so much.

By: Skip

Skip — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 02:32:34 +0000

It’s hard to grow up in Kentucky and not know the words to My Old Kentucky Home, or at least the vast majority of them. It’s sung at the beginning or end of many, many events (for example, it’s always sung at just before the Kentucky Derby, and at the end of University of Kentucky sports events). We were taught the lyrics in elementary school, and even before Frankfort changed the lyrics in 1986, we were pretty well taught not to say “darkies,” but were always taught the real history of the song.
Funny story… I was a reporter for many years, and about 10 years ago the state was breaking ground for a new arts center in our town (Berea). I had a friend who had moved here from Michigan, and I warned her she should learn the lyrics before attending the ground breaking with me because the song would be sung. As we sat a little more than three feet from the governor and first lady, we all stood to sing the song. My friend was proud she had learned the words, and was singing loudly. Unfortunately, she had learned the old lyrics, and I will never forget the look First Lady Patton shot her when she sang “darkies” at the top of her lungs. I still laugh when I think about it.
Some unique state symbols we have are the fresh water pearl (state gemstone), spotted bass (state fish), Chevy Corvette(state automobile, they’re all made here), and clogging (state dance).

By: Bill S

Bill S — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 20:08:46 +0000

Rhode Island has two State Beverages- one for the summer, one for the winter. It also has a State Rock, Cumberlandite. It’s found only in- you guessed it- Cumberland, RI.

By: Katherine

Katherine — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 23:00:31 +0000

Reading this post inspired me to pull out the Wisconsin Blue Book, sent to me by my request to my legislator. I never knew until now that states have a state tartan. Here what my source said:

“There needed to be an official Wisconsin tartan to represent the state’s history and culture and to be recognized as an official state symbol. Wisconsinites could wear the tartan as a recognized symbol of their home state. The Wisconsin legislature passed legislation establishing the official Wisconsin tartan in April 2008 and the Act was signed by the governor on 7 April 2008. The colours in the tartan are symbolic of the State history and culture: brown represents the fur trade that opened the state to new settlers; grey represents the lead miners who helped give the state its nickname ‘Badgers’ (the badger is also the State’s mascot and the mascot of the University of Wisconsin); red represents the University system that has given Wisconsin so much innovation and industry; blue represents the state’s waters that include the great lakes, commerce and recreation; green represents forests, agriculture and their contribution to Wisconsin; yellow represents both dairy and brewing – two industries that helped build Wisconsin. Yellow and green intersect to represent professional sports in the color combination of one of the state’s teams.”

By: Decca

Decca — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 19:21:32 +0000

Back when I was acting I used the California State Song (I Love you California) as my audition tune. Mostly because it sucked and I can’t sing. Everyone seems to think the state song is California, Here I Come. But no.

“I love you, California, you’re the greatest state of all. I love you, in the winter, summer, spring, and in the fall…” and it doesn’t get any better

By: Jamie

Jamie — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 04:24:00 +0000

Colorado’s state song is “Where the Columbines Grow” (though I’ve never heard it sung), so that’s another song about a state flower. It also has a state dinosaur (stegosaurus) and a state grass (blue gamma grass)

There was a campaign to make the trombone the official instrument of Iowa (because the composer of “76 Trombones” is from here), but I don’t think it was successful.

By: Keaka

Keaka — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 16:47:59 +0000

State Song: Hawai’i Pono’i.
I find this funny as it is a song about being loyal to your king. (Kamehameha) And we LOVE our song. I have been to many events where people will not stand during the National Anthem but all get to their feet for Hawaii Pono’i. This is mostly due to folks still being upset about the (illegal) overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarchy.
State Fish: Humuhumunukunukuapua’a
Our fish is like a badge of honor for tourists that come here. They all try and learn how to say it.
State Tree: Kukui (Candlenut)
State Flower: Pua aloalo (Yellow Hibiscus)
State Motto: “Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono” Which translates into “The Life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.”
Hawaiian is a “double” language in which you can say many things in one line. Our motto has another way to translate—with a nod towards restoring sovereignty to its people.
In 1843, Kauikeaouli (Kamehameha III) spoke this phrase on the steps of Kawaiahao Church, having marched there from what is now known as Thomas Square. This was on the day the Kingdom of Hawai’i was restored to its Independence or Sovereignty by Admiral Thomas of Great Britain. Treaties had just been signed with Britain & France which recognized the independent nation status of Hawai`i. The U.S. also signed onto this same treaty. (Ha ha ha ha)