Culture of Virginia
The Culture of Virginia refers to the distinct human activities and values that take place in or originate from the Commonwealth of Virginia. Virginia's historic culture was popularized and spread across America by Washington, Jefferson, and Madison, and their homes represent Virginia as the birthplace of America.[1] Modern Virginia culture has many heritages and is largely part of the culture of the Southern United States, however, Northern Virginia has become increasingly similar in culture to the Northeastern United States within the past few decades.[2]
Regional aspects
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The Smithsonian Institution divides Virginia into nine cultural regions.[3]
- Eastern Shore
- Hampton Roads
- Chesapeake Bay
- Northern Virginia
- Central Virginia
- Southern Virginia
- Shenandoah Valley
- Blue Ridge Highlands
- Heart of Appalachia
Language
English was passed as the commonwealth's official language by statutes in 1981 and again in 1996, though the status is not mandated by the Constitution of Virginia.[4] English is the only language spoken by 6,245,517 (86.7%) Virginians, though it is spoken very well by an additional 570,638 (7.9%) for a total of 94.6% of the Commonwealth which speaks English. Spanish has the most speakers of other languages, with 424,381 (5.9%). 226,911 (3.2%) speak Asian and Pacific Islander languages, including Vietnamese and Filipino.[5]
The
Cuisine
This section needs additional citations for verification. (April 2010) |
Besides the general cuisine of the Southern United States, Virginia maintains its own particular traditions. Smithfield ham, sometimes called Virginia ham, is a type of country ham which is protected by state law, and can only be produced in the town of Smithfield.[8]
Barbecue in Virginia is similar to barbecue in North Carolina. It is mostly pork with a vinegar-based sauce, ranging from almost all vinegar in the east spiced with red pepper flakes, to a vinegar-based sauce that has some tomato and a bit of sweetness to it the further west one goes.
Marble cake originated in Rockingham County, Virginia from a Mennonite community. Shoofly pie is popular in the Shenandoah Valley and was brought to that area from the Pennsylvania Dutch. Fried peaches, cut in half and simmered in butter with brown sugar melted in their hollows, and served with vanilla ice cream, is a more upscale dessert found in Virginia.
Brunswick stew is a traditional and common dish in Virginia, a type of thick vegetable stew with meat. The traditional meat was the Appalachian flying squirrel, but this has since become endangered and chicken and rabbit are often used in current times. Virginians insist that this stew, common in most parts of the south, was invented in Brunswick County, Virginia, whereas Georgians insist it was Brunswick, Georgia.[9][10]
In the Western half, apples are important to the local cuisine, especially for apple butter and cider.
Virginia wine is made in many parts of the state.[11] As of 2007, the state has 2,400 acres (9.7 km2) under cultivation, an increase of 14% over the prior year. 5,600 tons were harvested in 2007, a 10% decline from 2006, the majority of which was Vinifera. The entire year's crop was valued at $7,800,000. The state ranks eighth in the nation for both bearing acreage and grape production.[12] There are six subregions in Virginia: Monticello AVA, North Fork of Roanoke AVA, Northern Neck George Washington Birthplace AVA, Rocky Knob AVA, Shenandoah Valley AVA, Virginia's Eastern Shore AVA.
Traditional Virginian Christmas dinners vary but usually consist of either a Christmas ham or roast beef as the center of the meal. A common dinner is roast beef with yorkshire pudding.
Arts
Fine arts
The
Other museums include the popular
Besides these sites, many
Music and performance art
Virginia has launched many award-winning traditional music artists as well as internationally successful
Notable performance venues include
The
Academy Award winners Warren Beatty, Sandra Bullock, Shirley MacLaine, and George C. Scott hail from the state, as does Wanda Sykes.
In August 2023, singer Oliver Anthony released to the internet a song called "Rich Men North of Richmond" which became an overnight viral success. The song prominently featured Richmond, VA in its lyrics, and was both praised, as well as criticized, by critics from both the political right and left.[21][22][23]
Literature
Literature in Virginia often deals with the state's extensive, and sometimes troubled, past. The works of
Architecture
Virginia furniture and architecture are typical of American colonial architecture. Thomas Jefferson and many of the state's early leaders favored the Neoclassical architecture style, leading to its use for important state buildings. The Pennsylvania Dutch and their style can also be found in parts of the state.[30]
Festivals
Many counties and localities host
On the
Two important film festivals, the
References
- ISBN 978-0-8071-3043-8. Archived from the originalon December 2, 2008. Retrieved November 29, 2007.
- ISBN 978-0-8139-1774-0.
- ^ "Roots of Virginia Culture" (PDF). Smithsonian Folklife Festival 2007. Smithsonian Institution. July 5, 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 1, 2008. Retrieved September 29, 2008.
- ISBN 978-0-7486-2453-9. Retrieved October 20, 2008.
- ^ "Virginia Selected Social Characteristics in the United States". United States Census Bureau. 2007. Archived from the original on February 11, 2020. Retrieved January 11, 2009.
- ^ Clay III, Edwin S.; Patricia Bangs (May 9, 2005). "Virginia's Many Voices". Fairfax County, Virginia. Archived from the original on August 30, 2008. Retrieved November 28, 2007.
- ^ Miller, John J. (August 2, 2005). "Exotic Tangier". National Review. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved October 9, 2008.
- ^ "Code of Virginia > 3.1–867". LIS. July 14, 2007. Retrieved November 28, 2007.
- ^ Brunswick County, Virginia website Archived August 28, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "New Georgia Encyclopedia". Archived from the original on November 8, 2010. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
- ^ "Assessment of the Profitability and Viability of Virginia Wineries" (PDF). MKF Research LLC. Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. June 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 11, 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-26.
- ^ "Virginia Grape Acreage Increases in 2007" (PDF). National Agricultural Statistics Service. April 7, 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 5, 2009.
- Virginia Foundation for the Humanities. 2007. Archived from the originalon August 27, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-09.
- ^ "Art on View". Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. December 6, 2007. Archived from the original on December 9, 2007. Retrieved December 8, 2007.
- ^ "Collections — Bust of the Savior". Chrysler Museum of Art. 2006. Archived from the original on December 16, 2007. Retrieved December 8, 2007.
- ISBN 978-1-59880-011-1. Retrieved November 2, 2008.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-58843-512-5. Retrieved December 2, 2008.
- ^ "The world's Top 10 hip-hop producers". CanWest News Service. September 19, 2006. Archived from the original on December 10, 2008. Retrieved June 17, 2008.
- ^ "Charities". Dave Matthews Band. November 15, 2007. Archived from the original on November 16, 2007. Retrieved December 8, 2007.
- ]
- ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
- ^ "'Rich Men North of Richmond' songwriter says it's no conservative anthem". NBC News. August 25, 2023. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
- ISBN 978-0-631-22404-4.
- ^ Kirkpatrick, Mary Alice. "Summary of Jurgen: A Comedy of Justice". Library of Southern Literature. University of North Carolina. Retrieved August 18, 2009.
- ^ Lehmann-Haupt, Christopher (November 2, 2006). "William Styron, Novelist, Dies at 81". The New York Times. Retrieved August 18, 2009.
- ^ Dirda, Michael (November 7, 2004). "A Coed in Full". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 3, 2009.
- ^ Jackman, Tom (May 27, 2012). "Fairfax native Matt Bondurant's book is now the movie 'Lawless'". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
- ^ "Governor McAuliffe Announces Administration Appointments". Archived from the original on July 2, 2014. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
- ^ Keller, Christian B. (2001). "Pennsylvania and Virginia Germans during the Civil War". Virginia Magazine of History and Biography. 109. Virginia Historical Society: 37–86. Archived from the original on May 22, 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-12.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7645-7132-9. Retrieved November 7, 2008.
- ^ Meyer, Marianne (June 7, 2007). "Live!". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 7, 2008.
- ^ "Virginia Lake Festival". Virginia Tourism Corporation. 2008. Archived from the original on January 16, 2009. Retrieved 2008-09-08.
- ^ "Uncle Billy's Day". 2009. Retrieved October 17, 2009.
- ^ Samsot, Bob (May 15, 2008). "Arts in Brief". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 30, 2008.
- ^ "Conventions/Events". Northern Virginia Anime Association. 2008. Retrieved December 2, 2008.