Quintessential Texas
Living in such a large and bold state, Texans sometimes seem to forget about the rest of the country. They've developed a distinctive culture all their own, which you can delve into by doing as the natives do.
Barbecue
Texas barbecue will make you forget all about Memphis, Kansas City, and North Carolina. Here barbecue can mean pretty much anything, smoked until it literally disintegrates in your mouth. Most of the time, though, we're talking about brisket. Not that dried-up hunk of meat Grandma used to make—Texas barbecue brisket is moist, tender, and thinly sliced, served over some bread and slathered with sauce. Grab some pickles and sides—baked beans, potato salad, fried okra, jambalaya, broccoli-rice-cheese casserole, corn on the cob, black-eyed peas, green beans, mac 'n' cheese … maybe even an SOS (side of sausage). Wash it all down with a sweet iced tea or a Shiner Bock, and you'll find culinary nirvana.
Western Heritage
One of the first things you'll notice when you deplane in Texas is that people here are proud of their Western roots. Most of the real cowboys are long gone (though the state is still home to many working ranches), but Texans still dress the part. You're likely to see at least a handful of people wearing cowboy boots and hats in most public places; even some Dallas businessmen sport polished, custom-made boots and pristine Stetsons. The most western of institutions, the rodeo, is alive and well here—Houston's draws almost 2 million over a three-week period each March. Still, if you want to meet Texans who aren't "all hat and no cattle," you'll need to leave the urban areas to visit places where farming and ranching are still a part of the daily rhythm of life.
Tejano Culture
Texas's Hispanic heritage goes back to the 16th century, when Spanish conquistadors first visited the region. These explorers were followed by settlers from Mexico, who extended their mission trails throughout the state and brought their religion, customs, and legal system along. They also unknowingly established the beginnings of Tejano (Spanish for "Texan") culture—eventually solidifying this new identity as they fought against Mexico alongside Anglo settlers in the Texas Revolution. Today you can see Tejano influences in the language, architecture, music, and, of course, the food of Texas. And the Census Bureau reports that 35.7% of the state's residents are of Hispanic or Latino origin—a figure that is expected to grow along with the Tejano impact on all Texans' identity.
Football Madness
In Texas, football is more religion than sport. Every fall, in small towns across the state normal life is put on hold on Friday nights, and businesses shut down so everyone can go watch the high school game. On Saturdays most Texans bleed Longhorn orange or Aggie maroon—but never both. And Sunday afternoons are reserved for watching America's team, the Dallas Cowboys. (Houston's newish team, the Texans, has its own following—but it's clear who's number one in the Lone Star State.) This intense love of the sport has been chronicled in countless books and movies, including Varsity Blues, North Dallas 40, and, of course, Friday Night Lights (the book, movie, and TV series).
