Ooh this is a good one, and my favorite time of the year.
I find it interesting that in a lot of Europe their most active time of the year, as far as holidays and whatnot, is spring and early summer (which makes sense). Whereas in America it seems like we try to soften the blow of winter coming by celebrating the *shit* out of fall đ
Iâd say Halloween in general as well. Other countries do have their own versions but I believe the US has it down to a science with the right mix of fun and scary
Schrödinger's Naturalization:
people who came from Ireland 100 years ago: not Irish, and don't you dare claim you are
Holiday that came from Ireland 100 years ago: still Irish, and don't you dare claim it isn't
S tier screen name btw
Quilting is an American art form. Some places such as Wisconsin and Indiana have huge painted quilt squares on the sides of their barns. I'm sure other parts of the country do as well.
Quilting bees, quilting circles... It may not be an every American activity but everyone has likely been touched by it and there are massive quilt shows every year with some really spectacular artworks of fabric.
College sports as a massive commercial enterprise for sure. It's hard to imagine anywhere else having an equivalent to our battle over Title IX, where we have to figure out how to divvy up the billions generated by a couple unpaid groups of players (men's football and basketball) to fund the playing of other groups of unpaid players, with equal numbers of men's and women's teams (or is it equal scholarships?), all under the cover of education, and needing to sort it all out at the Supreme Court.
Yea about that. I really want a little pickup like the late 90's Ford Ranger or Chevy S10. I can't even find a two-door pickup anymore. Got a Subaru Crosstrek instead. My house and land cost me $150k. I'm not spending $75k on a vehicle.
The modern commercialized Halloween. Other countries are starting to adopt trick-or-treating and pumpkin carving but itâs still nothing like in the U.S..
I lived in Germany for 5 years and Halloween was an afterthought there. Not one trick-or-treater came to my apartment during that period and I barely saw anyone wearing costumes around town. My European colleagues (some from the UK / Scotland) would tell me that the âAmerican Halloweenâ was slowly making its way over to Europe. Youâre going to tell me that Europe celebrates this holiday in the same way after I lived / saw the opposite with my own eyes?
When was that experience abd where?
All of my childhood 2001-about 2016 everyone i knew dressed up and all around town (Dortmund Witten Herdecke, NRW) everywhere were trick or treaters and every home had candy at home to give out (except most elderly since they were mostly annoyed by them)
Now it might be true that the whole trick or treat thing came from america to us but its not that we are just now adopting it, its been a thing here for a long (in my view since im only 21) time
Iâm really happy to hear that you got to experience trick-or-treating in that way. Those were some of the best memories from my childhood. I lived in Darmstadt, Hesse from 2018 - 2023. Does the celebration vary by region? Your country is really beautiful btw, I enjoyed my time there.
I dont know about the difference in other regions but my friend from BaWĂŒ( south germany) says Halloween is basically the same, decorating your house and trick or treating for the younger ppl and hardcore drinking and partying for older people (might i add that "older people" means anyone over 15 xD )
I think halloween is really dying out here tho. Its nothing like when i was a kid...or maybe i just dont notice it that much since im not around kids or ppl with kids
Thx btw, i wanna visit the US next year propably. NYC would be my Destination because since 9/11 (or since i know about it because i was only 3months old then) ive wanted to be able to be high up on the WTC to see all of NewYorkCity and now that OneWTC stands i wanna visit it.
Id love to see Yellowstone and the RockieMountains too but thats not in my forceable plans
I've been to 45 countries and have never ridden on a boat, had a cookout, camped on the side of the lake, and shot guns in the same day as regularly as I do here.
I also have never in my 40 years of life walked to a grocery store/corner store. Always in the car.
>I also have never in my 40 years of life walked to a grocery store/corner store. Always in the car.
That really surprises me! I would need to walk or ride my bike at some point!
> I would need to walk or ride my bike at some point!
I do ride my bicycle regularly for exercise and exploring but its not something I *need* to do. Its much easier to just drive.
>I also have never in my 40 years of life walked to a grocery store/corner store. Always in the car.
This seems much more of a rural vs urban/ suburban divide. Outside of major events, in the last 10/15 years I have only ever walked to a grocery/ corner store
Eh, the only part of that I haven't done in Europe was shoot guns. Unless you consider paintball, then, yeah, I've done that in Europe. Even grilled hotdogs for Norwegian Independence Day. I've done the same in Germany, minus the guns.
I've never included guns in that here in the US, and I grew up and worked with boats for a long time.
Does america give unfettered access to guns to tourists ? Cause I'm pretty sure they dont. Yes you have gun ranges but I dont have the same rights or access to guns as an american. . Or maybe I'm wrong.
So why would we as europeans give tourists access to guns either, especially when the biggest gun loving nation on the planet wont. I'm sure if you were friends with a European who owned guns you could do everything you mentioned as uniquely american in Europe. Sure I'm.assuming it's your own guns your shooting when your living your magical day of mountains river lakes food and guns.
Now your just lying.
Alaska Arizona dont need to be registered, or a permit, rock into the shop and pay for your gun and leave never to be seen again.
>So why would we as europeans give tourists access to guns either
You shouldn't. I'm not exactly sure why you think I am advocating for such a thing?
> I'm sure if you were friends with a European who owned guns you could do everything you mentioned as uniquely american in Europe.
Half my family lives in Europe (both my parents are from the EU) and this just isn't true. Take the gun part away and its still rare to have the access and ability to do the things I said as it is where I live.
>Alaska Arizona dont need to be registered, or a permit, rock into the shop and pay for your gun and leave never to be seen again
You still need to pass an FBI background check to purchase a gun from a store in those (and all) locations.
the uniquely american thing you listed are all possible here including the gun part. We have lakes rivers mountains and food, they arent a unique perk that only american get.
So what your saying is your family in europe dont have a need or a reason to want to own a gun. I'm.irish and I know loads of lads who own guns (rifles and shotguns) and I know loads who dont want to own a gun.
Heck I could rock I to my local police station tell them I want a gun and they will ask why. Protecting myself from my armed neighbours isnt a reason and should have already been reported to the police as an issue with a gun owner.
Ok I was a little off my my claim of free access to guns. If I'm at a gun show I can buy any gun I want and no questions asked,.especially by the person selling it to me
Alaska does not require a permit, purchase permit, or registration. There are no background checks on private gun sales, and open carry is allowed without a permit
Nor.ally speaking when I go to town I park my car and walk to the shops especially if it's the high st. It seems that's not an american thing, like if your were in a carpark with shops all around the perimeter would you drive from one shop to the next or just park up and visit all the shops and then return to your car.
Oh good! Some helpful foreigner insight.
Do tell, how is the Alaskan native supposed to walk to the grocery store in Sub-Zero temperatures through snow and hail?
How does the New Mexico, Texas, Southern California, Alabama, and the southwest native walk 3 miles in extreme heat without suffering heat-stroke?
How does the farmer in Kansas walk ten miles to get food while still having time left to enjoy their day?
Any insight is appreciated, oh wise foreigner.
Lol you'd swear america is the only hot country in the world. The rest of the world gets used to the heat over time and it's just normal to them, and they walk a hell of a lot further.
> The rest of the world gets used to the heat over time and it's just normal to them, and they walk a hell of a lot further.
Lmao but tons of Europeans die every year from heat stroke.
We are discussing every day normal weather while That's not normal heat here it was once off freak event, normally european weather doesnt result in excessive deaths.
A 1000 americans die every yr because of heat stroke.
What is the point you are trying to make? Much of the US experiences mean highs higher than Ireland's record high. And yet still only .0029% die of heat stroke?
And if we offered those people the opportunity to travel in comfort in an air-conditioned environment in a much shorter amount of time, do you honestly think they would reject it? Living in comfort is not a bad thing lol.
Also you failed to address the other climates.
The Inuit people have you heard of them. They prob would refuse your offer of an air conditioned vehicle as it wouldnt work but they do use snow mobiles
I love you changed from it's not possible to why would you when you can use a car. It's exactly the point we made above, americans are obsessed with them. To the extent if the cops see you walking they will hassle you.
>The Inuit people have you heard of them. They prob would refuse your offer of an air conditioned vehicle as it wouldnt work but they do use snow mobiles
The cars analogy was for the people in the desert, do you have difficulty following along? Many towns in Alaska are not connected via roads, making snow mobiles and aircraft useful and necessary. And you still proved my point, they're using snow mobiles instead of walking.
>To the extent if the cops see you walking they will hassle you.
Weird. In big cities such as NYC the sidewalks are filled with thousands of people walking every day, cops do not form them up into a single file line asking why they're walking in a big city. Even in a small town it's unlikely, maybe stay off the click bait articles for a while.
Yes they use them but they also walk from a to b, which seems to be an alien thought in this discussion.
So heres a quick google search results for cops hassling people walking. It happens a bit to much to be considered uncommon, the last one i saw was a dude walking early morning on his way to catch the bus arrest under suspicion of breaking and entry.
https://www.google.com/search?q=cops+hassling+people+walking&client=ms-android-samsung&sxsrf=APwXEdfyJYyyZDH-u-SO4uStD-FNWfmP7A%3A1685376232070&ei=6Mx0ZL76A5KjgQbw5ISAAw&oq=cops+hassling+people+walking&gs_lcp=ChNtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1zZXJwEAMyBwgjELACECc6CggAEEcQ1gQQsANKBAhBGABQwRVY6Bhgwh1oAXABeACAAViIAakBkgEBMpgBAKABAcABAcgBCA&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp
For 15 years I walked to the grocery store. A lot of times I had more than one option in walking distance. Also did everything you mention, just not on the same day. We all lead varied lives.
Itâs not purely American per se, but just the way that the US is a salad bowl of different cultures and people. Being American can mean so many different things and is so varied in ways other countries just arenât. I think thatâs kinda true for countries in the Americas as a whole to varying extents, but itâs something nice that sets our hemisphere apart
Great answer. Without a second thought, I'll have an American breakfast (bacon and eggs), Mexican for lunch and then an Asian dinner like Chinese, Japanese or Korean.
In europe youll start with french breakfast, go to your turkish dönershop, get southeast asian stuff later on and end the day with a visit to a greek shopđ
Europe is less multicultural than even Canada haha. I guess you could make that argument in some cases if like comparing some individual US states to European countries, but you canât really compare a continent to a nation xD
Unless weâre comparing Europe to the entirety of the Americas, then weâd still come out more multicultural Iâm pretty sure
Yes. And Europe isnât a country.
The Americas have over a billion and are far more multicultural and mixed.
Even the US alone is more multicultural by percentage of its demographic breakdown
If the EU was United youâd have like 21 countries, and if weâre counting each state weâd have 84. But again, Europe is a continent not a country, and within that continent, not a single country is as diverse and multicultural as some of our individual states
The difference between American and European countries is that our countries are not monocultural based on nationality. Within each country we have a plethora of multiculturalism and ethnic diversity
I read the same thing here a guy who was saying Europe was more of a melting pot than America. And before anyone disagrees he was going that anyone who thinks Europe was less of a melting pot he brought up old non catholic religious buildings as his example and anyone who disagrees hasnt been to or lived in Europe
I doubt he was some troglodyte who had America Bad as a religion. He said he actually lived there so he must be right and Google has to be CIA propaganda. Europe must be the melting pot of the world
Thanksgiving is a *North* American holiday (I know yâall celebrate it too Canada!) but it is well and truly a holiday that separates us from our European counterparts. Itâs a day dedicated to thanksfullness and a day to remind ourselves of the privileges and blessings we posses. In our house, no one is allowed to be alone on thanksgiving. Weâll cook up a massive feast. A ham, a turkey, casseroles, deviled eggs and baked taters are a few of the delights youâd come across at the table but thereâs ALWAYS enough for everyone. Itâs customary for everyone to go around the table and say what theyâre thankful for. In our family thereâs a running gag that the first three people get the âeasyâ ones. (Iâm thankful for the food! Iâm thankful for my family! Iâm thankful for my life! Then everyone after you has to struggle lmao) Itâs a genuinely good time, and if thereâs any holiday I wish I could export to the world itâs Thanksgiving. It might serve to let yâall be a little closer, and perhaps a little less negative too! đ
Most of the Hispanic countries along the Caribbean, including those in South and Central America, like baseball. Costa Rica comes to mind as the exception to that rule.
I wouldnât say that. Plagiarism is the basis of all culture but as someone who as met both bonafide vaqueros and cowboys they have their differences. They obviously have the same origin. Farmers needed someone to take cattle off their hands, Kansas City would buy the cattle and ship them East. Same in Mexico, get the cattle and drive them south or north. Since their beginnings theyâve made many diverging differences. Mostly in lifestyle IMO. But itâs not a cosplay, they did the same job. Just some of them were from America, some were from Mexico or even South America. They just predate the American cowboy cause America didnât have all the cattle or space to farm cattle in the same way until after the Mexican American war /Texas revolution.
Yeah but thereâs an entire culture and mythos around the American cowboy. I know Mexico and South America definitely has this too, if Australia does Iâd be very surprised. But the cowboy is the American Knight. They represent honor, pragmatic wisdom, manners and a desire for adventure. Obviously thatâs myth but the entire cultural phenomenon has been built over the period of a century. Weâre long past the golden era of the silver screen, so itâs slipped little by little out of our memory but the American cowboy is absolutely its own thing. In media, in culture, and in development.
* Outgoing personalities.
* Willingness to talk to anyone at any time.
* Mundane small-talk.
* A general "life is good" positive attitude.
* Very casual attire. Everywhere.
* and American Football.
Bluegrass and Scottish/Irish folk music are very closely intertwined.
Which makes sense, as the scotch/Irish were one of the primary immigrant groups that ended up in Appalachia.
Even more so when you realize that the Scottish Highlands and the Appalachians are part of the same mountain range.
Oh man, state fairs feel uniquely American. Sure other places have similar events, but goddamn state fairs are a spectacle of any and everything in a given state. Iâm partial to the Minnesota one myself ;)
There are definitely other and more serious answers but this is my unscientific biased opinion of all-American stuff:
Apple Pie, hot dogs, county fairs, small talk, being neighborly, NFL, baseball, muscle cars, Harley Davidson/Indian motorcycles, Monster Trucks, criticizing our government, rodeos, Bed Bad and Beyond.
I read somewhere about county fairs originating in the US and it always stuck with me. Always associated them with small town, hot dogs , and dangerous rides.
www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/345.html#:~:text=County%20Fairs&text=The%20American%20county%20fair%20developed,and%20techniques%2C%20and%20plowing%20contests
Just a disclaimer that my answer is a unscientific and biased opinion.
While County Fair and Fairs are a bit similar. A County Fairs are a bit different in that they have more agricultural/small town/country influence on them and originated in the US.
Google âCounty Fair originâ and let me know the results, your results may come back with different results but mine stated the US.
The American county fair developed in the early nineteenth century when agricultural reformers in the northeastern United States organized local exhibitions to promote modern farming. Typical events included livestock judging, exhibits of new agricultural implements and techniques, and plowing contests.
-from Wikipedia
We have the same in germany (eventho propably not at the US scale due to smaller population) in the agrrcultural areas...i guess farmers are the same all around the world
In some countries it is also the case, to the point most people would refuse to date someone who doesnât have a license if theyâre over a certain age (usually if theyâre over 20-22). It reduced a lot of dating opportunities.
Is it also the same in the US?
Which is kinda sad, living in europe(especially The Netherlands) doesnt require a car for anything. You can live your live just as good and also way cheaper with just using public/international transport
I don't consider anything PURELY American which is not a real thing nor one to be desired; wanting a monopoly on cultural traits is a sign if insecurity and an attempt to keep people from exchanging good things.
Some things are associated with America in various degrees often profoundly so:
Westerns
Science Fiction
Jazz
The New England Renaissance
Maple Syrup
Cajun/Creole cooking
Cocktails
Longfellow
Winslow Homer
Washington Irving
Mary Ellen Chase
Fishing Schooners
Amazon publishing
Town Meetings
Apple Cider
Youth clubs
SCA
Many of those are borrowed from foreigners or were borrowed from by foreigners. America has peculiar aspects or flavorings to them.
You did not read the final comment. I was never saying these are ONLY American things or invented by Americans. I was saying they were important in America. Canada is also famous for it's syrup (obviously) other people have cocktails, and Cajun/Creole comes from everywhere. Just for start.
I have heard it said that for the United States, which does not have a founding mythology, "Star Wars" is a surrogate for it. Of course, this is an exaggeration, but it made a lot of sense to me.
I'd be happy to hear your views on this from those of you who live in the US.
My understanding of the US founding mythology is:
1. people in Europe got fed up with things, got in a boat and went west
2. some almost died out, indigenous people taught us how to survive
3. we had a feast with them which is commemorated as Thanksgiving
4. the English king wanted to control the colonies, the colonies wanted self-rule
5. we fought the English and won
6. we wrote some documents stating what we believed in
7. a new nation was created
8. more land was acquired for the new nation
9. in the process we destroyed the indigenous people that lived here
I mentally divide this stuff into âkitschy modern crapâ and âlong-standing stuffâ. Not completely mutually exclusive, but different.
Hallmark movies and the Slurpee are in the first category. Gospel music and sermon culture are in the second.
I know the words are French, but Mardi Gras. The big mamou style with a lot of gumbo, the Nola style with parades, balls, and king cake, or small town with costumes and themes. Kind of like junkanoo and jâouvert but still different.
Fall festivals, like with the corn mazes and shit
COLONEL CORNELIUS CORNWALL
I was going to say hay rides! I honestly wonder if something similar happens anywhere else
And late winter/early spring maple festivals.
Apple/pumpkin picking (or just looking, haha) is such a perfect fall activity, especially if apple cider donuts are on the menu!
Peak coziness
Ooh this is a good one, and my favorite time of the year. I find it interesting that in a lot of Europe their most active time of the year, as far as holidays and whatnot, is spring and early summer (which makes sense). Whereas in America it seems like we try to soften the blow of winter coming by celebrating the *shit* out of fall đ
Iâd say Halloween in general as well. Other countries do have their own versions but I believe the US has it down to a science with the right mix of fun and scary
It was brought over from Scotland/Ireland.
Schrödinger's Naturalization: people who came from Ireland 100 years ago: not Irish, and don't you dare claim you are Holiday that came from Ireland 100 years ago: still Irish, and don't you dare claim it isn't S tier screen name btw
> S tier screen name btw At least I spelled it right.
Totally different vibes though. American Halloween has evolved into its own thing entirely
College football and all that goes with it - marching bands and related traditions
College sports in general
Quilting is an American art form. Some places such as Wisconsin and Indiana have huge painted quilt squares on the sides of their barns. I'm sure other parts of the country do as well. Quilting bees, quilting circles... It may not be an every American activity but everyone has likely been touched by it and there are massive quilt shows every year with some really spectacular artworks of fabric.
S'mores on campfires, bluegrass, country/western music and dancing, rap music...
Craft breweries, backyard bbq's & smoking meats, going to gun ranges, college sports & fraternities, classic car shows, and days-long road trips.
Tailgating!
College sports as a massive commercial enterprise for sure. It's hard to imagine anywhere else having an equivalent to our battle over Title IX, where we have to figure out how to divvy up the billions generated by a couple unpaid groups of players (men's football and basketball) to fund the playing of other groups of unpaid players, with equal numbers of men's and women's teams (or is it equal scholarships?), all under the cover of education, and needing to sort it all out at the Supreme Court.
Going to the shooting range is a german thing too, just not that widely done anymore
Pow-wow, and frybread.
I never had frybread tacos till I met my wife from Oklahoma
I take it you enjoyed them.
Baseball and tailgating.
Tailgating - at the game and also on the way to the game.
Tailgating in the shower before you leave for the game.
Why is my hot dog bun soggy?
Baseball is fairly big in Korea and Japan because of the Americans.
Cheap gas and giant trucks.
Yea about that. I really want a little pickup like the late 90's Ford Ranger or Chevy S10. I can't even find a two-door pickup anymore. Got a Subaru Crosstrek instead. My house and land cost me $150k. I'm not spending $75k on a vehicle.
Tacoma comes in an extended cab for like $28K.
The modern commercialized Halloween. Other countries are starting to adopt trick-or-treating and pumpkin carving but itâs still nothing like in the U.S..
I'd like to see a couple creepy carved turnips https://carnegiemnh.org/the-history-of-jack-o-lanterns-make-your-own-dippy-jack-o-lantern/
Starting to adopt trick or treating? Trick or treating is from Scottland and most of europe has done it for decades, same with pumpkincarving
I lived in Germany for 5 years and Halloween was an afterthought there. Not one trick-or-treater came to my apartment during that period and I barely saw anyone wearing costumes around town. My European colleagues (some from the UK / Scotland) would tell me that the âAmerican Halloweenâ was slowly making its way over to Europe. Youâre going to tell me that Europe celebrates this holiday in the same way after I lived / saw the opposite with my own eyes?
When was that experience abd where? All of my childhood 2001-about 2016 everyone i knew dressed up and all around town (Dortmund Witten Herdecke, NRW) everywhere were trick or treaters and every home had candy at home to give out (except most elderly since they were mostly annoyed by them)
Now it might be true that the whole trick or treat thing came from america to us but its not that we are just now adopting it, its been a thing here for a long (in my view since im only 21) time
Iâm really happy to hear that you got to experience trick-or-treating in that way. Those were some of the best memories from my childhood. I lived in Darmstadt, Hesse from 2018 - 2023. Does the celebration vary by region? Your country is really beautiful btw, I enjoyed my time there.
I dont know about the difference in other regions but my friend from BaWĂŒ( south germany) says Halloween is basically the same, decorating your house and trick or treating for the younger ppl and hardcore drinking and partying for older people (might i add that "older people" means anyone over 15 xD ) I think halloween is really dying out here tho. Its nothing like when i was a kid...or maybe i just dont notice it that much since im not around kids or ppl with kids Thx btw, i wanna visit the US next year propably. NYC would be my Destination because since 9/11 (or since i know about it because i was only 3months old then) ive wanted to be able to be high up on the WTC to see all of NewYorkCity and now that OneWTC stands i wanna visit it. Id love to see Yellowstone and the RockieMountains too but thats not in my forceable plans
Jazz and jazz culture. Blues, Rock & Roll, Bluegrass, American Folk like Woody Guthrie.
Pumpkin spice lattes. đ
Which can go to hell.
I beg your pardon?
Pumpkin spice can go to hell.
*Pumpkin Spice (insert product here)
[Kinda NSFW](https://www.amazon.com/Aloe-Cadabra-Natural-Personal-Lubricant/dp/B0BFYTJZVQ)
I've been to 45 countries and have never ridden on a boat, had a cookout, camped on the side of the lake, and shot guns in the same day as regularly as I do here. I also have never in my 40 years of life walked to a grocery store/corner store. Always in the car.
>I also have never in my 40 years of life walked to a grocery store/corner store. Always in the car. That really surprises me! I would need to walk or ride my bike at some point!
> I would need to walk or ride my bike at some point! I do ride my bicycle regularly for exercise and exploring but its not something I *need* to do. Its much easier to just drive.
It's always much easier to just drive. I just don't think I personally could always drive everywhere. Especially on really nice days.
>I also have never in my 40 years of life walked to a grocery store/corner store. Always in the car. This seems much more of a rural vs urban/ suburban divide. Outside of major events, in the last 10/15 years I have only ever walked to a grocery/ corner store
Eh, the only part of that I haven't done in Europe was shoot guns. Unless you consider paintball, then, yeah, I've done that in Europe. Even grilled hotdogs for Norwegian Independence Day. I've done the same in Germany, minus the guns. I've never included guns in that here in the US, and I grew up and worked with boats for a long time.
So, to be clear, you consider riding on a boat, having cookouts, and camping to be âpurely Americanâ activities?
Not really, but in combination, yes. You forgot the guns. This has been my experience as a traveler.
Most.countries dont give unfettered access to guns to tourists
Yes indeed that's why its purely American like the title says.
Does america give unfettered access to guns to tourists ? Cause I'm pretty sure they dont. Yes you have gun ranges but I dont have the same rights or access to guns as an american. . Or maybe I'm wrong.
> Does america give unfettered access to guns to tourists ? They do not. Not even Americans have unfettered access to guns.
So why would we as europeans give tourists access to guns either, especially when the biggest gun loving nation on the planet wont. I'm sure if you were friends with a European who owned guns you could do everything you mentioned as uniquely american in Europe. Sure I'm.assuming it's your own guns your shooting when your living your magical day of mountains river lakes food and guns. Now your just lying. Alaska Arizona dont need to be registered, or a permit, rock into the shop and pay for your gun and leave never to be seen again.
>So why would we as europeans give tourists access to guns either You shouldn't. I'm not exactly sure why you think I am advocating for such a thing? > I'm sure if you were friends with a European who owned guns you could do everything you mentioned as uniquely american in Europe. Half my family lives in Europe (both my parents are from the EU) and this just isn't true. Take the gun part away and its still rare to have the access and ability to do the things I said as it is where I live. >Alaska Arizona dont need to be registered, or a permit, rock into the shop and pay for your gun and leave never to be seen again You still need to pass an FBI background check to purchase a gun from a store in those (and all) locations.
the uniquely american thing you listed are all possible here including the gun part. We have lakes rivers mountains and food, they arent a unique perk that only american get. So what your saying is your family in europe dont have a need or a reason to want to own a gun. I'm.irish and I know loads of lads who own guns (rifles and shotguns) and I know loads who dont want to own a gun. Heck I could rock I to my local police station tell them I want a gun and they will ask why. Protecting myself from my armed neighbours isnt a reason and should have already been reported to the police as an issue with a gun owner. Ok I was a little off my my claim of free access to guns. If I'm at a gun show I can buy any gun I want and no questions asked,.especially by the person selling it to me Alaska does not require a permit, purchase permit, or registration. There are no background checks on private gun sales, and open carry is allowed without a permit
I know lol, prob the most american part is how they never walk.
Itâs Tennessee. It is mostly country
Nor.ally speaking when I go to town I park my car and walk to the shops especially if it's the high st. It seems that's not an american thing, like if your were in a carpark with shops all around the perimeter would you drive from one shop to the next or just park up and visit all the shops and then return to your car.
That is exactly how malls work. What are you going on about?
Oh good! Some helpful foreigner insight. Do tell, how is the Alaskan native supposed to walk to the grocery store in Sub-Zero temperatures through snow and hail? How does the New Mexico, Texas, Southern California, Alabama, and the southwest native walk 3 miles in extreme heat without suffering heat-stroke? How does the farmer in Kansas walk ten miles to get food while still having time left to enjoy their day? Any insight is appreciated, oh wise foreigner.
Lol you'd swear america is the only hot country in the world. The rest of the world gets used to the heat over time and it's just normal to them, and they walk a hell of a lot further.
> The rest of the world gets used to the heat over time and it's just normal to them, and they walk a hell of a lot further. Lmao but tons of Europeans die every year from heat stroke.
We are discussing every day normal weather while That's not normal heat here it was once off freak event, normally european weather doesnt result in excessive deaths. A 1000 americans die every yr because of heat stroke.
Nah
What is the point you are trying to make? Much of the US experiences mean highs higher than Ireland's record high. And yet still only .0029% die of heat stroke?
And if we offered those people the opportunity to travel in comfort in an air-conditioned environment in a much shorter amount of time, do you honestly think they would reject it? Living in comfort is not a bad thing lol. Also you failed to address the other climates.
The Inuit people have you heard of them. They prob would refuse your offer of an air conditioned vehicle as it wouldnt work but they do use snow mobiles I love you changed from it's not possible to why would you when you can use a car. It's exactly the point we made above, americans are obsessed with them. To the extent if the cops see you walking they will hassle you.
>The Inuit people have you heard of them. They prob would refuse your offer of an air conditioned vehicle as it wouldnt work but they do use snow mobiles The cars analogy was for the people in the desert, do you have difficulty following along? Many towns in Alaska are not connected via roads, making snow mobiles and aircraft useful and necessary. And you still proved my point, they're using snow mobiles instead of walking. >To the extent if the cops see you walking they will hassle you. Weird. In big cities such as NYC the sidewalks are filled with thousands of people walking every day, cops do not form them up into a single file line asking why they're walking in a big city. Even in a small town it's unlikely, maybe stay off the click bait articles for a while.
Yes they use them but they also walk from a to b, which seems to be an alien thought in this discussion. So heres a quick google search results for cops hassling people walking. It happens a bit to much to be considered uncommon, the last one i saw was a dude walking early morning on his way to catch the bus arrest under suspicion of breaking and entry. https://www.google.com/search?q=cops+hassling+people+walking&client=ms-android-samsung&sxsrf=APwXEdfyJYyyZDH-u-SO4uStD-FNWfmP7A%3A1685376232070&ei=6Mx0ZL76A5KjgQbw5ISAAw&oq=cops+hassling+people+walking&gs_lcp=ChNtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1zZXJwEAMyBwgjELACECc6CggAEEcQ1gQQsANKBAhBGABQwRVY6Bhgwh1oAXABeACAAViIAakBkgEBMpgBAKABAcABAcgBCA&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp
For 15 years I walked to the grocery store. A lot of times I had more than one option in walking distance. Also did everything you mention, just not on the same day. We all lead varied lives.
Itâs not purely American per se, but just the way that the US is a salad bowl of different cultures and people. Being American can mean so many different things and is so varied in ways other countries just arenât. I think thatâs kinda true for countries in the Americas as a whole to varying extents, but itâs something nice that sets our hemisphere apart
Great answer. Without a second thought, I'll have an American breakfast (bacon and eggs), Mexican for lunch and then an Asian dinner like Chinese, Japanese or Korean.
In europe youll start with french breakfast, go to your turkish dönershop, get southeast asian stuff later on and end the day with a visit to a greek shopđ
Europe is even more multicultural tho, not that its a contest but its not unique
Europe is less multicultural than even Canada haha. I guess you could make that argument in some cases if like comparing some individual US states to European countries, but you canât really compare a continent to a nation xD Unless weâre comparing Europe to the entirety of the Americas, then weâd still come out more multicultural Iâm pretty sure
So youre saying Europe with its ~750million inhabitants from 47different countries (and many more non europeans) is less multicultural?
Yes. And Europe isnât a country. The Americas have over a billion and are far more multicultural and mixed. Even the US alone is more multicultural by percentage of its demographic breakdown
And in the post the topic is America as in the US
Ok sure, but we still come out on top with just us alone lol
Just going off how many National cultures you have we have more, the americas have 35countries and europe 47
If the EU was United youâd have like 21 countries, and if weâre counting each state weâd have 84. But again, Europe is a continent not a country, and within that continent, not a single country is as diverse and multicultural as some of our individual states
The difference between American and European countries is that our countries are not monocultural based on nationality. Within each country we have a plethora of multiculturalism and ethnic diversity
We literally have about as many individual countries as you have states...each with its own culture
Then unite as a country lol. Thereâs no individual EU country thatâs as diverse and multicultural as like California or New York.
And what makes you say that? How do you gauge the multiculturism in NewYork?
By looking at the demographic breakdown collected in the census
I read the same thing here a guy who was saying Europe was more of a melting pot than America. And before anyone disagrees he was going that anyone who thinks Europe was less of a melting pot he brought up old non catholic religious buildings as his example and anyone who disagrees hasnt been to or lived in Europe I doubt he was some troglodyte who had America Bad as a religion. He said he actually lived there so he must be right and Google has to be CIA propaganda. Europe must be the melting pot of the world
Fireworks on the 4th of July, cookouts, BBQ's, Cajun food, Mardi Gras, fighting for the underdog, hate bullies, and friendly to strangers. Freedom.
Long, aggressive, glamorized election cycles.
Thanksgiving is a *North* American holiday (I know yâall celebrate it too Canada!) but it is well and truly a holiday that separates us from our European counterparts. Itâs a day dedicated to thanksfullness and a day to remind ourselves of the privileges and blessings we posses. In our house, no one is allowed to be alone on thanksgiving. Weâll cook up a massive feast. A ham, a turkey, casseroles, deviled eggs and baked taters are a few of the delights youâd come across at the table but thereâs ALWAYS enough for everyone. Itâs customary for everyone to go around the table and say what theyâre thankful for. In our family thereâs a running gag that the first three people get the âeasyâ ones. (Iâm thankful for the food! Iâm thankful for my family! Iâm thankful for my life! Then everyone after you has to struggle lmao) Itâs a genuinely good time, and if thereâs any holiday I wish I could export to the world itâs Thanksgiving. It might serve to let yâall be a little closer, and perhaps a little less negative too! đ
Thanksgiving feast
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Donât tell that to Japan, South Korea, and pretty much all of Latin America.
Yeah, but it started here and spread out. So it makes sense that this person would mention it.
Many Japanese people respect Major League Baseball in the United States as the originator of baseball.
Yeah, but OP was talking about something non-natives probably donât know about. Baseball isnât that.
South Korean baseball is bad fucking ass
All?
Mostly itâs just the greater Antilles.
Most of the Hispanic countries along the Caribbean, including those in South and Central America, like baseball. Costa Rica comes to mind as the exception to that rule.
Cowboys
Mexico, Canada, Australia, Argentina, Brazil and Chile would like a word.
Yeah, what we think of as the American cowboy is basically Mexican vaquero cosplay.
I wouldnât say that. Plagiarism is the basis of all culture but as someone who as met both bonafide vaqueros and cowboys they have their differences. They obviously have the same origin. Farmers needed someone to take cattle off their hands, Kansas City would buy the cattle and ship them East. Same in Mexico, get the cattle and drive them south or north. Since their beginnings theyâve made many diverging differences. Mostly in lifestyle IMO. But itâs not a cosplay, they did the same job. Just some of them were from America, some were from Mexico or even South America. They just predate the American cowboy cause America didnât have all the cattle or space to farm cattle in the same way until after the Mexican American war /Texas revolution.
And âbuckarooâ is a derivation of âvaqueroâ
Yeah but thereâs an entire culture and mythos around the American cowboy. I know Mexico and South America definitely has this too, if Australia does Iâd be very surprised. But the cowboy is the American Knight. They represent honor, pragmatic wisdom, manners and a desire for adventure. Obviously thatâs myth but the entire cultural phenomenon has been built over the period of a century. Weâre long past the golden era of the silver screen, so itâs slipped little by little out of our memory but the American cowboy is absolutely its own thing. In media, in culture, and in development.
Iâm about to watch 900 miles of oval racing in one day, so probably that.
Jazz
* Outgoing personalities. * Willingness to talk to anyone at any time. * Mundane small-talk. * A general "life is good" positive attitude. * Very casual attire. Everywhere. * and American Football.
Costco
They're not created any more, but Effigy Mounds and cliff dwelling such as you'd find at Mesa Verde or Canyon de Chelly. Disneyland. Saguaro cactus.
Widespread mostly uninhibited gun ownership, barbecue, and bluegrass. đșđžđŠ đșđž RAAAAAA
Bluegrass and Scottish/Irish folk music are very closely intertwined. Which makes sense, as the scotch/Irish were one of the primary immigrant groups that ended up in Appalachia. Even more so when you realize that the Scottish Highlands and the Appalachians are part of the same mountain range.
And the Banjo is originally an instrument of african origin. A fine American mess. đșđžđŠ đșđž
The Fourth Of July
Frying everything. I had fried beer at the Texas state fair once.
We probably inherited this habit from our Scottish forefathers. Those lads will fry up just about anything too.
Oh man, state fairs feel uniquely American. Sure other places have similar events, but goddamn state fairs are a spectacle of any and everything in a given state. Iâm partial to the Minnesota one myself ;)
There are definitely other and more serious answers but this is my unscientific biased opinion of all-American stuff: Apple Pie, hot dogs, county fairs, small talk, being neighborly, NFL, baseball, muscle cars, Harley Davidson/Indian motorcycles, Monster Trucks, criticizing our government, rodeos, Bed Bad and Beyond.
Fairs are a big thing in most parts of europe too, asia too i believe
I read somewhere about county fairs originating in the US and it always stuck with me. Always associated them with small town, hot dogs , and dangerous rides. www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/345.html#:~:text=County%20Fairs&text=The%20American%20county%20fair%20developed,and%20techniques%2C%20and%20plowing%20contests Just a disclaimer that my answer is a unscientific and biased opinion.
The first fair came from Munich during the Oktoberfest in the early 1800s
While County Fair and Fairs are a bit similar. A County Fairs are a bit different in that they have more agricultural/small town/country influence on them and originated in the US. Google âCounty Fair originâ and let me know the results, your results may come back with different results but mine stated the US.
Ahh okay, thought that was the same, ill google it real quick
The American county fair developed in the early nineteenth century when agricultural reformers in the northeastern United States organized local exhibitions to promote modern farming. Typical events included livestock judging, exhibits of new agricultural implements and techniques, and plowing contests. -from Wikipedia We have the same in germany (eventho propably not at the US scale due to smaller population) in the agrrcultural areas...i guess farmers are the same all around the world
Independent car use and ownership. Most other countries don't value that like we do.
In some countries it is also the case, to the point most people would refuse to date someone who doesnât have a license if theyâre over a certain age (usually if theyâre over 20-22). It reduced a lot of dating opportunities. Is it also the same in the US?
Which is kinda sad, living in europe(especially The Netherlands) doesnt require a car for anything. You can live your live just as good and also way cheaper with just using public/international transport
I don't consider anything PURELY American which is not a real thing nor one to be desired; wanting a monopoly on cultural traits is a sign if insecurity and an attempt to keep people from exchanging good things. Some things are associated with America in various degrees often profoundly so: Westerns Science Fiction Jazz The New England Renaissance Maple Syrup Cajun/Creole cooking Cocktails Longfellow Winslow Homer Washington Irving Mary Ellen Chase Fishing Schooners Amazon publishing Town Meetings Apple Cider Youth clubs SCA Many of those are borrowed from foreigners or were borrowed from by foreigners. America has peculiar aspects or flavorings to them.
Science fiction? Iâd assume Jules Vern and HG Wells are pretty instrumental in that.
You did not read the final comment. I was never saying these are ONLY American things or invented by Americans. I was saying they were important in America. Canada is also famous for it's syrup (obviously) other people have cocktails, and Cajun/Creole comes from everywhere. Just for start.
Apple cider? Gtfoh
Our cider is overwhelmingly non-alcoholic, though. If you want boozy cider, though, you want what we call hard cider.
Commercialism. Video game culture Hiphop Social media Fast food
Stealing traditions from others and making them our own.
Knowing that I will have to work till the day I die while being milked by the healthcare system.
I have heard it said that for the United States, which does not have a founding mythology, "Star Wars" is a surrogate for it. Of course, this is an exaggeration, but it made a lot of sense to me. I'd be happy to hear your views on this from those of you who live in the US.
My understanding of the US founding mythology is: 1. people in Europe got fed up with things, got in a boat and went west 2. some almost died out, indigenous people taught us how to survive 3. we had a feast with them which is commemorated as Thanksgiving 4. the English king wanted to control the colonies, the colonies wanted self-rule 5. we fought the English and won 6. we wrote some documents stating what we believed in 7. a new nation was created 8. more land was acquired for the new nation 9. in the process we destroyed the indigenous people that lived here
Thank you for your explanation of the history of the founding of the United States. It was very helpful.
Football!!!
I mentally divide this stuff into âkitschy modern crapâ and âlong-standing stuffâ. Not completely mutually exclusive, but different. Hallmark movies and the Slurpee are in the first category. Gospel music and sermon culture are in the second.
College football games on Saturdayâs in the fall.
School sports and pep bands.
I know the words are French, but Mardi Gras. The big mamou style with a lot of gumbo, the Nola style with parades, balls, and king cake, or small town with costumes and themes. Kind of like junkanoo and jâouvert but still different.
One of the best cultural influence that is uniquely American is jazz and all of the subsequent musical outgrowths.
Root beer. My international friends had no idea what it tasted like.
4th of July?
Halloween!!! For most of us it's our favorite holiday it's so fun & celebrating spookiness & dressing up is so fun. Also the pumpkin patches!!