Culture of Virginia facts for kids
The Culture of Virginia is all about the unique ways people live, create, and celebrate in the state of Virginia. Long ago, famous leaders like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison helped shape Virginia's culture. Their homes show why Virginia is called the birthplace of America. Today, Virginia's culture is a mix of many traditions. While much of it feels like the culture of the Southern United States, Northern Virginia has grown to feel more like the Northeastern United States.
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Virginia's Cultural Regions
Did you know Virginia has many different cultural areas? The Smithsonian Institution has divided Virginia into nine main cultural regions. Each one has its own special feel and traditions.
These regions include:
- Eastern Shore
- Hampton Roads
- Chesapeake Bay
- Northern Virginia
- Central Virginia
- Southern Virginia
- Shenandoah Valley
- Blue Ridge Highlands
- Heart of Appalachia
How People Speak in Virginia
English became Virginia's official language in 1981 and again in 1996. Most people in Virginia speak English. About 86.7% of Virginians speak only English. Another 7.9% speak English very well, too.
Spanish is the most common language spoken by others. About 5.9% of people in Virginia speak Spanish. Many also speak Asian and Pacific Islander languages, like Vietnamese and Filipino.
The Piedmont area is famous for its unique way of speaking. It has strongly influenced the Southern American English accent. You might also hear a Tidewater accent near the coast. On Tangier Island, some people even speak with an older, more old-fashioned English accent. In big cities, the accents are often more mixed, like in other parts of America.
Delicious Virginia Food
Virginia has its own special food traditions, beyond general Southern cooking.
Famous Virginia Foods
- Smithfield Ham: This special type of country ham is protected by state law. It can only be made in the town of Smithfield. It is sometimes called Virginia ham.
- Barbecue: Virginia barbecue is often pork with a vinegar-based sauce. In eastern Virginia, the sauce is mostly vinegar with red pepper. As you go west, it might have some tomato and a little sweetness.
- Marble Cake: This swirled cake started in Rockingham County, Virginia. It came from a Mennonite community there.
- Shoofly Pie: This sweet pie is popular in the Shenandoah Valley. It was brought there by the Pennsylvania Dutch people.
- Fried Peaches: A fancy dessert is fried peaches. They are cooked in butter with brown sugar and served with vanilla ice cream.
- Sausage: Virginia breakfasts often include sausage. It is usually flavored with sage.
- Peanuts: Virginia is known for its peanuts. They are eaten roasted or boiled. Peanut soup is a traditional dish that has been around since colonial times.
- Plums: Damson plums are often used in Virginia cooking. They are great in jams, jellies, and desserts.
- Brunswick Stew: This thick vegetable stew with meat is very common. Traditionally, it used flying squirrel meat. Today, chicken or rabbit are often used instead. Virginians believe it was invented in Brunswick County, Virginia.
Local Specialties
In western Virginia, apples are very important. People make apple butter and cider. Winesap apples are grown and used a lot here.
Along the coast, seafood is a big part of the diet. You can find oysters, blue crabs, and clams. Blue crabs are prepared in many ways. They are used in crab cakes or eaten plain with melted butter. Oyster and spinach soup is a traditional New Year's Eve dish. Old Bay spice mix is a common seasoning for seafood.
Black walnuts are also used in traditional Virginia cooking, especially in desserts.
Virginia Wine
Virginia makes a lot of wine. In 2007, the state had about 2,400 acres (9.7 km²) of vineyards. Virginia ranks eighth in the nation for both grape growing and wine production. There are six special wine regions in Virginia.
Christmas Dinner
Traditional Christmas dinners in Virginia often feature a Christmas ham or roast beef. A common meal is roast beef with yorkshire pudding.
Arts and Creativity in Virginia
Virginia has a rich history of arts, from paintings to music and theater.
Visual Arts and Museums
The Virginia Foundation for the Humanities helps improve cultural life in the state. The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts has a huge collection, including many Fabergé eggs. The Chrysler Museum of Art has many artworks from the Chrysler family. There are also local museums, like the Piedmont Arts Association and the Taubman Museum of Art.
Other popular museums include:
- The Science Museum of Virginia
- The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center (part of the National Air and Space Museum)
- The National Museum of the Marine Corps
- The Frontier Culture Museum
- The Virginia Museum of Natural History
- The Mariners' Museum
Virginia also has many outdoor museums and historic battlefields. These include Historic Jamestowne, Colonial Williamsburg, and several Civil War battlefields.
Music and Live Shows
Virginia is home to many famous musicians.
- Country and Bluegrass: Artists like Ralph Stanley, Patsy Cline, and the Carter Family are from Virginia.
- Jazz and R&B: Ella Fitzgerald and Pearl Bailey were both from Newport News.
- Hip Hop and R&B: Missy Elliott, Timbaland, The Neptunes, and Chris Brown grew up here. The Neptunes produced many hit songs in 2003.
- Rock and Jam Bands: Dave Matthews Band, Bruce Hornsby, and GWAR started in Virginia.
- Recent Success: In 2023, singer Oliver Anthony released "Rich Men North of Richmond". This song became very popular online and sparked a lot of discussion.
Virginia has many great places to see live shows. These include the Birchmere, Jiffy Lube Live, and the Norva Theatre. Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts is a national park just for performances. It hosts the Wolf Trap Opera Company every summer. The Harrison Opera House is home to the Virginia Opera. The Virginia Symphony Orchestra is based in Hampton Roads.
For theater, the American Shakespeare Center is in Staunton. Other theaters include the Barter Theatre and the Landmark Theater. Richmond's Theatre IV is one of the largest children's theaters in the country. Virginia is also home to Barksdale Theatre, the first dinner theater in the U.S.
Many famous actors are from Virginia, including Warren Beatty, Sandra Bullock, Shirley MacLaine, and George C. Scott.
Books and Writers
Virginia literature often explores the state's long and sometimes difficult past.
- Ellen Glasgow wrote about social issues and women's roles.
- James Branch Cabell wrote about changes in society after the Civil War.
- William Styron wrote historical novels like The Confessions of Nat Turner.
- Tom Wolfe sometimes wrote about his Southern background.
- Matt Bondurant wrote The Wettest County in the World, a historical novel about moonshiners during Prohibition.
Virginia also has a state Poet Laureate. This person is chosen to represent poetry in Virginia.
Building Styles
Virginia's furniture and buildings often show American colonial architecture. Early leaders like Thomas Jefferson liked the Neoclassical architecture style. This is why many important state buildings look like ancient Greek or Roman temples. You can also find the Pennsylvania Dutch style in some parts of the state.
Fun Festivals and Events
Virginia hosts many county fairs and festivals throughout the year.
- State Fair of Virginia: This big fair is held every September at the Meadow Event Park in Doswell.
- Neptune Festival: In September, Virginia Beach celebrates its waterfront and local artists.
- Harborfest: In June, Norfolk hosts this festival with boat races and air shows.
- Celebrate Fairfax!: Fairfax County sponsors this event with music and performances.
- Virginia Lake Festival: Held in July in Clarksville.
- Uncle Billy's Day: Celebrated in Amherst.
- Food Festivals: Many other food festivals happen across the state.
Unique Local Events
- Chincoteague Pony Swim & Auction: On Chincoteague island, wild ponies swim across a channel. This unique event happens in July and is part of a week-long carnival.
- Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival: This six-day festival is held annually in Winchester. It includes parades and bluegrass concerts.
- National Folk Festival: From 2005 to 2007, Richmond hosted this festival.
- Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival: Held in May in Reston.
Film and Fan Events
- Virginia Film Festival: Held annually in Charlottesville.
- VCU French Film Festival: Held annually in Richmond.
- Anime USA: A national anime convention held in Crystal City.
- Anime Mid-Atlantic: Held in various cities.
- Magfest: A music and gaming festival.
- Old Time Fiddlers' Convention: In Galax, this event started in 1935. It is one of the oldest and largest of its kind.
