We Now Know All Nine Stages of the Minnesota Goodbye

During the holidays here in Minnesota, saying goodbye is not a quick affair—it’s a lengthy ritual steeped in warmth, politeness, and an unspoken competition to see who can linger longest.

Yes, the Minnesota Goodbye isn’t just a farewell; it’s a journey through nine intricate stages of conversation, hospitality, and reluctant parting. And while it can happen any time of the year, it's especially acute during the holidays, when you're more likely to get together with relatives you don't regularly see.

In fact, when it comes to things you'll likely encounter over the holidays (and specifically Thanksgiving) here in our neck of the woods, the Minnesota Goodbye is right up there with turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and pumpkin pie.

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And while the Minnesota Goodbye IS a thing here, it isn't limited to just families in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, mind you. I grew up behind the Cheddar Curtain over in Wisconsin, and my family could put on a master class in the Minnesota Goodbye. In fact, it's so prevalent across many other states in addition to Minnesota, this story from Odessy.com calls it the 'Midwestern Goodbye.'

No matter what you call it, you're likely familiar with it, right? It's the long, drawn-out phenomenon when trying to leave a family event or function that painfully and uncomfortably extends the process of saying goodbye. In fact, it stretches a regular goodbye into one that is much longer than it really needs to be.

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Scroll down to see if you can identify the following nine stages of the Minnesota Goodbye and then keep scrolling to check out some of the Best Thanksgiving Movies Of All Time!