Hilton Head Island, Daufuskie Island, Bluffton & Okatie, SC
A Short Dictionary of Local Terms, Phrases and Expressions
The South Carolina Lowcountry including Hilton Head Island, Daufuskie Island, Bluffton, Okatie and surrounds has made several interesting contributions to the lexicon of the Southeastern United States. Here are few of them with links to additional information about them.
Lowcountry - The South Carolina Lowcountry is the coastal area from just south of Charleston to the border of Georgia and Savannah. It includes Beaufort, Jasper, Allendale, Colleton and Hampton counties in South Carolina and encompasses Hilton Head Island, Bluffton, Daufuskie Island, Callawassie Island and Beaufort. The Lowcountry is distinguished by low-lying barrier islands and tidal marshes rich with sea life, wild-life, birds and unique fauna. It one of the most naturally beautiful areas in the United States with a long history. Check out this short article about the South Carolina Lowcountry.
Gullah - The Gullah culture can be regarded as the indigenous population of Hilton Head Island and the Lowcountry. It is mix of Native American, West African and European cultures, who inhabited the barrier islands and were separated from the mainland. There are several tours which focus on this group, especially during May which is Gullah month. The term "Gullah" refers to the people, food and language which is struggling to survive today. Check out this link to learn more about them and then visit the Penn Center, which is considered the center of Gullah culture today.
Marsh Tacky - Marsh Tackies are work horses which local farmers and plantation owners used to plow the fields and perform work duties on the plantation. After the crops were harvested the Marsh Tackies were set free to graze in the marshes and then rounded again when planting time was near. Read a proposed bill naming the Marsh Tacky as the State Horse. An interesting short story about Marsh Tackies can be found here.
Spanish Moss - Spanish Moss is that stuff you see hanging from oak trees in the South Carolina Lowcountry. In reality it is not moss and cannot speak Spanish, but is a fluffy greenish-grey, independent plant life from the pineapple family and does not injure the trees in any way. It survives by soaking up water and feeding on nutrients from the water. I have seen people gather it and use it for Christmas decorations, but first they place it in the microwave for five minutes to kill-off any buggies it may have. Learn more about Spanish Moss here.
The Heritage of Golf - "The Heritage," as it is referred to on Hilton Head Island, is the annual PGA golf tournament held in April, on the weekend just after the Masters. Play is on the Harbourtown Golf Club in Sea Pines Plantation. The tournament was first played in 1969 and the first winner was Arnold Palmer. It is major fund raiser for local charities. More about local golf activities can be found here.
Lowcountry Boil - Also called Frogmore Stew, is a traditional Lowcountry dish of smoked sausage, shrimp, crab, potatoes and corn on the cob all boiled together in one pot to make a unique dish. Learn how to make a delicious Lowcountry Boil here or for a second recipe click here.
Oyster Roast - Oyster roasts are very common and great way for a large group of people to be fed at a party. Our own local oysters are harvested from local rivers and bushels of oysters are roasted over an open barbecue. Oysters in this manner are served in buckets, unopened and diners usually feast while standing around a table covered in newspaper. Learn how to make your own perfect oyster roast.
Palmetto Bug -A Palmetto Bug is a large (I mean large) cockroach. They are prevalent in homes and have made the exterminating business a long-term career in the Lowcountry. They can be found every where, but are harmless creatures. Often times new visitors are shocked to see a Palmetto Bug the size of their little finger in the middle of their living room. Check out Wikipedia's discussion about thePalmetto Bug.
Sweet Tea-Sweet Tea is nothing more than ice tea with the sweetening already mixed in. The secret, though, is in the how the sweetening flavor is made. Sugar is combined with boiling water to make "simple syrup" then the syrup is poured into the bottom of the glass before the tea is poured in over it. This makes for a perfectly dissoolved sweetness throughout the ice tea. You will not get the same effect by just adding sugar to ice tea since the sugar in actuality does not dissolve as completely as the "simple syrup." Never ask for sweet tea with low calorie sweetners - it just does not exist!
