21 Unwritten Rules I Wish I Knew Before Moving to Minnesota

When you move to a new place, there are rules to follow. They usually fall into two categories.

The first kind are written down, the “break these and you’ll be having a chat with a judge” type. Others, though, are unwritten. They won’t send you to jail, but they’ll definitely get you side-eyed at the potluck, whispered about in the hockey rink, or possibly banned from the annual fish fry. Trust me, social trouble in Minnesota is no joke.

I’ve called Minnesota home for six years now, and I’m happy to report I’ve achieved full compliance with the state’s unwritten code. But it wasn’t easy. At first, I was a walking violation of Minnesota etiquette. I said goodbye way too fast. I didn’t know what a "hotdish" was. I even dared to call it “Duck, Duck, Goose.” (Spoiler: It’s not Goose here, and people will let you know.)

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After years of trial, error, and a healthy dose of passive-aggressive correction from my fellow Minnesotans, I’m now fully fluent in the ways of the North Star State. So, if you’re new here, or just need a refresher, let me share my hard-earned wisdom.

These are the 21 unwritten rules I wish I had known before moving to Minnesota-- the rules you must follow to truly live like a Minnesotan. Break them at your own risk.

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