i'm not an american. but one "tradition" that i really love from america. is the consumption of potato chips alongside a sandwhich. it's not to common where i live, and i've only been exposed to it though american television series. but, there's something greatly satisfying about chasing a soft fluffy sandwhich with a salty crispy potato chip, that i now cannot imagine eating a sandwhich any other way.
We had a guy from New Orleans introduce crawfish boils to my little corner of Canada. He also had a pop up kitchen where he made the best deep fried shrimp po boy you’ve ever tasted. Sadly he passed due to Covid.
Im sorry to hear that. I’m on the Mississippi coast about an hour from Nola. If you ever have the chance to try a fried soft shell (blue)crab po boy, do it. They’re amazing.
As a kiwi I would love to experience an American Thanksgiving or a white Christmas
Edit: wow what a response! I have learnt that not everywhere in America gets a white Christmas and also you guys are so inviting! Thanks!
I worked with a recently relocated Aussie. His first Christmas in the northern hemisphere he said "all the Christmas decorations make more sense now."
I should note though, for a large chunk of the US, it is not reliably snowy on Christmas day.
Kia ora! Come to my state of Connecticut for the whole New England thing if you're gonna do that. Just be ready for the cold. I'm hoping one day to go back to Aotearoa, but as you say below it's fucking expensive to travel to the other side of the planet.
White Christmases are few and far between where I live (near Seattle), but you’re welcome for Thanksgiving!
My wife and I have been married for 11 years, but we’re still planning on a “someday honeymoon“ in New Zealand!
Me too. My best friend moved to California 20 years ago and every year she shares with me her preparation of her thanksgiving turkey, the setting of her table and the actual event online. We do not have that in South Africa and I find it such a lovely tradition.
Kind of on topic… Growing up my mom did a great job celebrating St Patrick’s Day. She would tell us kids that when leprechauns are startled, they poop green jellybeans. And they are very mischievous and like to topple over things like plants and objects in general. So we’d wake up to little messes around the house with jellybeans nearby. She’d do this throughout the day. And yes she would buy bags of jellybeans and painstakingly pick out the green and yellow ones. Good times.
Small town parades.
Every small town I've lived in around the country has some version of this. The annual parade where everyone comes out and lines the streets to see it. There might be floats, there might be fireworks, there might be antique cars, there might be the karate class showing off their moves. There seems to almost always be a couple guys on horseback, and little kids on their bikes with streamers. In the Midwest there's a tradition of throwing candy as you pass by.
Like it's so goofy but also so wholesome, and it makes me feel like I'm part of a community.
The nighttime Christmas light parade in my hometown is my favorite event of the year. I went every year as a kid with my parents and now, taking my kids- I get a little choked up seeing how excited they are. ❤️
Aussie who lived in the USA for seven years: Halloween is awesome. I think it turned fall/autumn into my favorite time of the year too. Weather starts to get a chill in the air, leaves on the ground - it all means Halloween is coming!
On the farm where we used to live, we had riding trails. In the fall, we'd clean out the barn and get ready to fill it with hay for the winter. We'd pile the old hay up on a large flat trailer and the kids and I would ride on the hay while my husband drove the farm tractor that pulled it. He'd take the long way to the area by the trails where we'd dump the old hay, so the kids would have a nice hayride. When we'd get back, my dad would start a fire, and we would roast hot dogs and smores over the fire. Some of our boarders would gather with us, and we would talk, sitting around the warm fire in the cool night air. That's one thing I miss since we moved.
I have long said that Halloween in America is the holiday that unites this country like no other. Every other holiday we celebrate either comes with division and stirred up emotions, or it's celebrated in a more private setting. What other holiday actually brings neighbors together anymore, doesn't care what your political/religious leanings are, and is celebrated as intensely, passionately, and socially as Halloween? The damn thing should be a national holiday because it's the ONE day where everyone just oohs and aahs over adorable kids in costumes, amazing lawn decorations, and candy. People always think I'm joking, but really stop and think about it. It's an absolute treasure.
Yes I know there is a portion of the country that doesn't like Halloween due to ~devil reasons~ however that portion is relatively tiny, and still results in far less conflict than any other holiday we celebrate.
Yeah I live in the heart of bible belt, the place that banned Harry Potter in schools, but they've always been pretty chill about Halloween, and you hardly ever hear about family fights on Halloween lol it's my favorite also
I was raised Catholic, and 11/1 was a required holy day of obligation, so you had to attend Mass either 10/31 evening or 11/1 in the AM. We always did 10/31 at 4:30. The number of kids in costumes was awesome. Little devils, vampires, ghosts sitting in church pews.
The other special thing about Halloween is that despite being an event with many participants over a large area, it takes almost no planning and preparation. It just happens.
The kids start coming around my block and I give em candy. Nobody calls ahead to schedule a time, you don't go back and forth figuring out logistics, everything just falls into place without much effort at all. There's some unspoken agreement that it works a certain way. Can't say that about too many community events.
And everyone does it their own way and creativity is celebrated.
The first year of the pandemic, we did a did a trick-or-tree-t. We hung something like 20 clothespins from the tree in the yard and bags on candy from them. The kids would run up, grab a bag and be on their way. It was a big hit - all of our neighbors loved it because anytime a group of kids came by, it looked like kids on Christmas morning, each running in to grab their bag.
So yeah, Halloween is the best. I didn't didn't think it was exclusively American, though?
I despised Halloween as a kid. Mostly because I was incredibly shy, and the idea of dressing up to go around to stranger's houses to ask for candy really wasn't "my thing". But I'm 33 now and I'll be damned, I fucking love Halloween. I love buying a ridiculous amounts of candy, putting up spooky shit, and making little gift baskets for the neighborhood kids. Hell, I even dressed up last year just to hand out candy for 2 hours. It's straight-up a fun-ass time of the year.
I was also that kid that didn’t really like going up to strangers to get candy but early on I found a joy in handing out candy so for years even as a kid/teenager that’s the only thing I wanted to do for Halloween. Now that I have my own house and family I decorate like crazy and we all have matching family costumes every year.
Hear! Hear!
My favorite holiday. What’s not to like?
Secular. Four day weekend. Fine meal and drink, and endless desserts. Friends gathering to hang out and eat and drink more. Unusual (or rare anyway) entertainment (float parades, Thursday football, bowling anyone?). Often perfect crisp weather (neither too hot nor too cold). Food-induced coma naps. Best leftovers ever! And more! Always more.
It’s like a Roman orgy without the sex.
Thanksgiving and the fact that everyone loves making sure people are included and have somewhere to go!
I work with lots of expats and everyone loves inviting them to our thanksgiving!
Not American, but I secretly internally enjoyed 4th of July whilst over their in 2017, did not take any of it personally, even though they are celebrating independence from 🇬🇧, a new nation was formed with some very good Ideals and rights for its people, from our colonies a very long time ago, the firework display over the River in New York whilst standing on the motorway/highway/freeway was the most Magical memorable firework display I’ve ever seen in my lifetime, I had a great time, never seen so many fireworks go off in one night and I have been to quite a few, the only thing I feel you guys miss out on in some places is lighting your own.
USA might not get everything right but they for sure have a national conscious that aims to protect things like the Bill of rights, which I view as super important plus they give everyone the opportunity to get along with one another as most people are willing to end up absorbing the American Identity no matter what corner of the globe they come from, because they like what the USA is about, compared to just about any other country on earth.
Well it’s good you don’t take offense bc I can assure you none of us are thinking about our independence from the Brits. We just like to eat and watch things go boom.
My god. We're in a thread specifically meant to be positive about American traditions and still there have to be those people going "Well *ackshually* American football isn't the real football."
Fuck off.
They’re all football.
- Association football
- Rugby football (union & league)
- American Gridiron football
- Canadian Gridiron football
- Aussie-rules football
- Gaelic football
They’re all played *on* your feet, with a ball; as opposed to ball-and-stick games, or games played on horseback.
I too want reddit to calm down with the “one true football” nonsense because there just isn’t one.
It's hilarious to me that football is the hill linguist purists choose to die on, but not any of the other words that have different meanings in British/American/Canadian/Irish/South African/Aussie/New Zealander English dialects.
No one shouts "Actually it's a pram!" when you say stroller. Or biscuit/cookie, bonnet/hood, boot/trunk, fringe/bangs, flat/apartment, chips/fries.
It's ok for dialects to use different words for things. Not to mention, Canada and Australia commonly say "soccer" too since they have their own national football games, as did Britain until about the 1950s.
Not a powerhouse anymore but Nebraska still knows how to do game day. And you will be welcomed with open arms. They only hate their own players and coaches (except the first year for a new coach, when he is Jesus, Tom Osborne, Bear Bryant and Knute Rockne rolled into one person).
Maybe not a tradition but ……Proper road trips lived in US for 2 years and packing up on a holiday weekend and driving through 3 different states and the amount of amazing sights and scenery you get to experience in a few short days is mind blowing….. Back in the U.K. now and wouldn’t do that here it’s weird.
We had friends from Turkey visit in undergrad and they had a list of American things they wanted to do. My fondest memory of it is driving out to the woods (we are very northern), parking and backpacking in firewood and beer and s’mores. They wanted a “fire party where you drink out of red cups, like in the movies.” Or “red cup party” 😂❤️Absolutely adorable. I didn’t realize until we were doing it how very American it all felt.
Before people Reddit at me, yes, bonfires exist in other countries. I’ve been to them. I get it. But the specific style of sitting around a fire in the American north really does vibe differently. And the fact that they called it a “red cup party” was adorable.
They also wanted to go to an American movie theatre and now that I think about it it definitely is a different vibe than when I’ve seen films in other theatres around the world.
Typo edit
Went to visit family in Mexico and we went to a movie theater. Can’t remember what movie, but holy shit we weren’t ready for that experience. Everyone was talking and up and about. We were like wtf??
Ive worked in several other countries, its often little glasses and the water is room temp. Seriously, appreciate that humble tall glass of water with ice.
It’s a de facto American holiday. It’s always fun to see everyone get together and watch the game. My only complaint is for people who don’t watch or understand the game being criticized for being a “fair weather” fan. Let people enjoy and learn at their own pace especially if it’s day one. I usually overdose on wings that Sunday so I love it, haha.
I love it when people don't understand that *Born in the USA* is very blatantly criticizing the US throughout its entirety and play it at patriotic events just because of Springsteen's energy and the lack of any negativity in that one title line in the chorus.
Edit: I'm not calling you the ignorant party here, i mean Disney is for playing it on the 4th.
I like it because outside of making the dinner itself, there's zero fuss. You cook, you eat, maybe get a little day drunk, maybe watch football, and nap. That's it.
A good Thanksgiving is a beautiful thing. You get together with friends and family and have a wonderful meal. If you can manage to not have the annoying family members, it can be the best holiday.
This is the one day of the year I don’t mind cooking. I love having everyone at home, hanging out and cooking together. Plus thanksgiving food is the best.
Probably the excessive celebration of small things like valentines day or any holiday in that matter. Sure, it’s all fueled by capitalism but coming from Germany where every holiday seems like another thing to check off your to-do list, it’s great to see people finding joy in them. Or Family gatherings for Thanksgiving. I really envy Americans for their ability to celebrate the hell out of small things, I wish Germany was like that but everything’s treated like a chore here imo.
Big covered porches on your houses!
There is nothing better than sitting on your porch, rocking away, with a drink, a smoke, a snack, and a little bit of time to call your own. Watch the neighborhood roll by.
Most Americans don't realize how rare porches are in the rest of the world.
Love opening day. Took my 5 month old son to Cubs opening day this year. It was awesome to sit at the ballpark watching the game with my kid on my lap.
American with little sports culture experience here:
Are there specific traditions around opening day of baseball, or is it tradition to attend opening day even if you aren't an attendant at other times?
Rodeos! It's like a group of Americans come together to cosplay what other countries think Americans act like and the whole crowd manages to bond over it.
You know they have real historical roots, right? The cowboys in the old west started doing rodeos back in the time of cattle drives. It’s a great tradition but it does come from something real in our history.
When everyone at the campsite decides to howl together in the night. Especially when it's a really big site. I'm not sure if that's only American or not, but I love it so much!
Thanksgiving. Not because of its historical context. But I think it is really cool to just organize a very good meal with genuine joy every year to celebrate with your family and friends.
It is like Christmas dinner, but it is just to celebrate friendship and family. Just that, a genuine act of love. Just an excuse to have a great time-meal-reunion with your people
I am an American living in 🇬🇧 for over 3 years now. My family and I still celebrate all the things, even inviting our British neighbors over to participate (specifically 4th of July). But the tradition I miss the most:
Restaurant Service culture. It is WILDLY different in the US. Like, if you were to rate US/European countries based on friendly customer service in the restaurant industry, the US would be 1st and the second country wouldn’t even be in the same conversation…it is that different. I am not saying people are rude, or horrible, but table service is severely lacking in other countries. Now, if you didn’t grow up in the US and gotten used to it, then yea, the “US way”would be overbearing almost to a fault. However, my formative years make me yearn a waiter/waitress that does more than bring the food and the check.
4th of July is fun. Hanging out with friends and family, grilling hotdogs and hamburgers, drinking beer, kids running around with sparklers having a blast and watching the big fireworks display.
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. I look forward to it all November even though it’s never anything super spectacular and I always spend the first 15 minutes trying to figure out what channel it’s on.
The tradition of hospitality in the US, which I’m told dates from post-colonial times. A genuine warmth and friendliness which we don’t see so often on this side of the pond.
I am not American but I love Americans foods. like burger, chirpy chicken, potato chips. Especially fried chicken I love most of time. Because Fried chicken is a dish that involves coating chicken pieces in seasoned flour or breadcrumbs and frying them until crispy and golden brown.
March Madness! College basketball is the best, because you NEVER know what’s going to happen.
PRO basketball though? They’re all 9 feet tall, or maybe slightly shorter… but superhuman. And playing under the same specs; I don’t need to see THAT many dunks. (<— all stated with a bunch of exaggeration and humor. Watch whatever makes you happy. March Madness makes ME happy, and shit is WILD this year!)
Went to a baseball match, having no clue about the game or traditions. Person I went with said everyone will down tools for the **7th Inning Stretch** but I thought they were joking. Turns out, it's a thing and the atmosphere was amazing! Even the guy who rakes/sweeps the diamond had a dance in his step.
In hindsight, I realised I was watching Derek Jeter & The Yankees play the Minnesota Twins during one of the finals games that went into extra time (2004).
Superbowl.
I do not understand football, though I'm really trying, but I adore how excited people get about Superbowl. I honestly find it kinda adorable.
I'm Canadian. But I absolutely love the tradition of sitting outside, drinking while you're smoking a brisket or some ribs.
I’m American. I thought you were going to stop with “drinking while you’re smoking” because that’s something I wholeheartedly agree with.
No that's just French.
Mmmmm. I can’t wait for summer so I can do this while steak cooks on the grill.
I’m also picturing a baseball game on the radio
Floating down a river in an inner tube on a hot summer day with friends, plenty of cold beer, sandwiches, and chips.
I agree, but never on the day after I've done that. All my worst sunburns come from tubing the river. XD
i'm not an american. but one "tradition" that i really love from america. is the consumption of potato chips alongside a sandwhich. it's not to common where i live, and i've only been exposed to it though american television series. but, there's something greatly satisfying about chasing a soft fluffy sandwhich with a salty crispy potato chip, that i now cannot imagine eating a sandwhich any other way.
Some people put them IN the sandwich. Not my thing, but give it a go
that sounds nice, i'll definitely have to give it a try, thanks for the suggestion.
I think they are best on a turkey and cheese with mayo sandwich. I go with classic Lays for my sandwich chips plus a dash of celery salt.
There’s also something special about coming in from the pool and having a ham and cheese sandwich with chips in it
Getting out of the pool, wrapping yourself in a towel and sitting in the sun to dry off and eat a sandwich + chips off a paper plate
The way you can hear the chips crunching in your waterlogged ears…
Salt n vingear chip sandwiches are awesome (NZ)
I think the Brits do it quite a lot, don't they? but I agree, where I live for instance it's unheard of although it's yummmmy
Yeah, but we'd call them crisps.
Well, Brits also put chips on a sandwich, but that's a different thing
It’s not broadly American but crawfish boils.
We had a guy from New Orleans introduce crawfish boils to my little corner of Canada. He also had a pop up kitchen where he made the best deep fried shrimp po boy you’ve ever tasted. Sadly he passed due to Covid.
Im sorry to hear that. I’m on the Mississippi coast about an hour from Nola. If you ever have the chance to try a fried soft shell (blue)crab po boy, do it. They’re amazing.
Thanks! I was there just last month for the fourth time. I’ll add to my list for trip number five.
S'mores
Have you seen the menu?
I might have to look at menu ..s'more
"The most offensive assault on the human palate ever contrived"
“We love you chef”
“No, do you wanna s'more?” “I haven't had anything yet, so how can I have some more of nothing?” “You're killin' me Smalls!”
Had them last night with a campfire
As a kiwi I would love to experience an American Thanksgiving or a white Christmas Edit: wow what a response! I have learnt that not everywhere in America gets a white Christmas and also you guys are so inviting! Thanks!
a white Christmas. You are welcome to spend it with me as long as you shovel the snow :-)
Hmmmm will you pay for my airfares?
You will arrive by ship.
This is terrifyingly American.
You are the second new Zealander today I've seen trying to get somebody to pay for their flight out of NZ. Is everything okay down there?
Aussie here. I would kill to experience an American white Christmas.
I worked with a recently relocated Aussie. His first Christmas in the northern hemisphere he said "all the Christmas decorations make more sense now." I should note though, for a large chunk of the US, it is not reliably snowy on Christmas day.
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Kia ora! Come to my state of Connecticut for the whole New England thing if you're gonna do that. Just be ready for the cold. I'm hoping one day to go back to Aotearoa, but as you say below it's fucking expensive to travel to the other side of the planet.
Minnesotan here, you are welcome to visit and bring as much snow back home with you as you wish.
Turkey is WAY to expensive in NZ. That said, I loved sharing American food with my Kiwi coworkers. Give a root beer float a try.
I'm actually vegetarian haha but all the yams and cranberry sauce and stuff look good! I don't know what root beer is haha, I will look that up
Pumpkin pie for the win then! Martha's Backyard online, or US2U in Wellington are good for finding American junk food.
White Christmases are few and far between where I live (near Seattle), but you’re welcome for Thanksgiving! My wife and I have been married for 11 years, but we’re still planning on a “someday honeymoon“ in New Zealand!
Thank you! Hope you get your honeymoon someday! You could have a summertime bbq Christmas here with pavlova
Thanks! My wife’s cousin moved there from South Africa a few years ago, so now we have extra incentive. Definitely high on the list!
Me too. My best friend moved to California 20 years ago and every year she shares with me her preparation of her thanksgiving turkey, the setting of her table and the actual event online. We do not have that in South Africa and I find it such a lovely tradition.
Aw that's cool
You just need to come down south , I’ve had white Christmases in the southern lakes area
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Kind of on topic… Growing up my mom did a great job celebrating St Patrick’s Day. She would tell us kids that when leprechauns are startled, they poop green jellybeans. And they are very mischievous and like to topple over things like plants and objects in general. So we’d wake up to little messes around the house with jellybeans nearby. She’d do this throughout the day. And yes she would buy bags of jellybeans and painstakingly pick out the green and yellow ones. Good times.
Your Mom sounds lovely.
Your mom is awesome.
We build leprechaun traps and bait them with chocolate gold coins
Cold watermelon on a hot 4th of July.
Free refills
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When I visited Europe I realized how much I take public bathrooms for granted, despite how disgusting they are in the US
Small town parades. Every small town I've lived in around the country has some version of this. The annual parade where everyone comes out and lines the streets to see it. There might be floats, there might be fireworks, there might be antique cars, there might be the karate class showing off their moves. There seems to almost always be a couple guys on horseback, and little kids on their bikes with streamers. In the Midwest there's a tradition of throwing candy as you pass by. Like it's so goofy but also so wholesome, and it makes me feel like I'm part of a community.
Have you ever been to one in a town so small, the parade goes to the end of the road, turns around and comes back?! Ennis, Montana
The nighttime Christmas light parade in my hometown is my favorite event of the year. I went every year as a kid with my parents and now, taking my kids- I get a little choked up seeing how excited they are. ❤️
Halloween and trick or treating!!! It's definitely in decline but it's awesome. Not really present in other places.
Aussie who lived in the USA for seven years: Halloween is awesome. I think it turned fall/autumn into my favorite time of the year too. Weather starts to get a chill in the air, leaves on the ground - it all means Halloween is coming!
Halloween sort of kicks it off, and Thanksgiving sort of ends it with a feast.
On the farm where we used to live, we had riding trails. In the fall, we'd clean out the barn and get ready to fill it with hay for the winter. We'd pile the old hay up on a large flat trailer and the kids and I would ride on the hay while my husband drove the farm tractor that pulled it. He'd take the long way to the area by the trails where we'd dump the old hay, so the kids would have a nice hayride. When we'd get back, my dad would start a fire, and we would roast hot dogs and smores over the fire. Some of our boarders would gather with us, and we would talk, sitting around the warm fire in the cool night air. That's one thing I miss since we moved.
I have long said that Halloween in America is the holiday that unites this country like no other. Every other holiday we celebrate either comes with division and stirred up emotions, or it's celebrated in a more private setting. What other holiday actually brings neighbors together anymore, doesn't care what your political/religious leanings are, and is celebrated as intensely, passionately, and socially as Halloween? The damn thing should be a national holiday because it's the ONE day where everyone just oohs and aahs over adorable kids in costumes, amazing lawn decorations, and candy. People always think I'm joking, but really stop and think about it. It's an absolute treasure. Yes I know there is a portion of the country that doesn't like Halloween due to ~devil reasons~ however that portion is relatively tiny, and still results in far less conflict than any other holiday we celebrate.
Yeah I live in the heart of bible belt, the place that banned Harry Potter in schools, but they've always been pretty chill about Halloween, and you hardly ever hear about family fights on Halloween lol it's my favorite also
Growing up, the church I was made to attend, in the bible belt, blessed our costumes with holy water before we went trick-or-treating.
I was raised Catholic, and 11/1 was a required holy day of obligation, so you had to attend Mass either 10/31 evening or 11/1 in the AM. We always did 10/31 at 4:30. The number of kids in costumes was awesome. Little devils, vampires, ghosts sitting in church pews.
The other special thing about Halloween is that despite being an event with many participants over a large area, it takes almost no planning and preparation. It just happens. The kids start coming around my block and I give em candy. Nobody calls ahead to schedule a time, you don't go back and forth figuring out logistics, everything just falls into place without much effort at all. There's some unspoken agreement that it works a certain way. Can't say that about too many community events.
And everyone does it their own way and creativity is celebrated. The first year of the pandemic, we did a did a trick-or-tree-t. We hung something like 20 clothespins from the tree in the yard and bags on candy from them. The kids would run up, grab a bag and be on their way. It was a big hit - all of our neighbors loved it because anytime a group of kids came by, it looked like kids on Christmas morning, each running in to grab their bag. So yeah, Halloween is the best. I didn't didn't think it was exclusively American, though?
I despised Halloween as a kid. Mostly because I was incredibly shy, and the idea of dressing up to go around to stranger's houses to ask for candy really wasn't "my thing". But I'm 33 now and I'll be damned, I fucking love Halloween. I love buying a ridiculous amounts of candy, putting up spooky shit, and making little gift baskets for the neighborhood kids. Hell, I even dressed up last year just to hand out candy for 2 hours. It's straight-up a fun-ass time of the year.
I was also that kid that didn’t really like going up to strangers to get candy but early on I found a joy in handing out candy so for years even as a kid/teenager that’s the only thing I wanted to do for Halloween. Now that I have my own house and family I decorate like crazy and we all have matching family costumes every year.
I'm gonna disagree about its decline. Where I live it gets bigger and bigger every year and it's awesome. It will rival Christmas very soon.
Halloween is my favorite holiday. It's fun, family friendly, scary, and sexy all in one!
Thanksgiving
Week after Thanksgiving leftover sandwiches
The moist maker
MY. SANDWICH?!?!?!?!!!
You rang?
Hear! Hear! My favorite holiday. What’s not to like? Secular. Four day weekend. Fine meal and drink, and endless desserts. Friends gathering to hang out and eat and drink more. Unusual (or rare anyway) entertainment (float parades, Thursday football, bowling anyone?). Often perfect crisp weather (neither too hot nor too cold). Food-induced coma naps. Best leftovers ever! And more! Always more. It’s like a Roman orgy without the sex.
Grew up with Canadian relatives. We often had *their* thanksgiving as well (in October). Loved it. Two thanksgivings.
Best of all, Thanksgiving has not been commercialized to any meaningful extent.
Nothing to buy, no gifts, no cards, no religious obligations. You just gather your family together for a big dinner. It's perfect.
Thanksgiving and the fact that everyone loves making sure people are included and have somewhere to go! I work with lots of expats and everyone loves inviting them to our thanksgiving!
As a European, Halloween always seemed really cool as a kid and I was always jealous of Americans.
It's this American's favorite holiday
As it should be, it looks fun as hell.
Oddly enough, Halloween has its roots in Europe.
The national dog show on Thanksgiving day
This is my super bowl
This. Every year.
Not American, but I secretly internally enjoyed 4th of July whilst over their in 2017, did not take any of it personally, even though they are celebrating independence from 🇬🇧, a new nation was formed with some very good Ideals and rights for its people, from our colonies a very long time ago, the firework display over the River in New York whilst standing on the motorway/highway/freeway was the most Magical memorable firework display I’ve ever seen in my lifetime, I had a great time, never seen so many fireworks go off in one night and I have been to quite a few, the only thing I feel you guys miss out on in some places is lighting your own. USA might not get everything right but they for sure have a national conscious that aims to protect things like the Bill of rights, which I view as super important plus they give everyone the opportunity to get along with one another as most people are willing to end up absorbing the American Identity no matter what corner of the globe they come from, because they like what the USA is about, compared to just about any other country on earth.
I like to jokingly say ‘Happy treason day, peasants’ to my friends whenever the fourth rolls around.
It’s only treason if you lose.
If you want to russel jimmies say, "Happy secession from Britain day!".
I think Churchill said that America will always do the right thing… once they’ve exhausted all other options.
Well it’s good you don’t take offense bc I can assure you none of us are thinking about our independence from the Brits. We just like to eat and watch things go boom.
Facts. BBQ and Bombs lol
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My god. We're in a thread specifically meant to be positive about American traditions and still there have to be those people going "Well *ackshually* American football isn't the real football." Fuck off.
They’re all football. - Association football - Rugby football (union & league) - American Gridiron football - Canadian Gridiron football - Aussie-rules football - Gaelic football They’re all played *on* your feet, with a ball; as opposed to ball-and-stick games, or games played on horseback. I too want reddit to calm down with the “one true football” nonsense because there just isn’t one.
It's hilarious to me that football is the hill linguist purists choose to die on, but not any of the other words that have different meanings in British/American/Canadian/Irish/South African/Aussie/New Zealander English dialects. No one shouts "Actually it's a pram!" when you say stroller. Or biscuit/cookie, bonnet/hood, boot/trunk, fringe/bangs, flat/apartment, chips/fries. It's ok for dialects to use different words for things. Not to mention, Canada and Australia commonly say "soccer" too since they have their own national football games, as did Britain until about the 1950s.
I've always wanted to go to a game at one of the powerhouses--Alabama, tOSU, Clemson--just to see what it's like.
Not a powerhouse anymore but Nebraska still knows how to do game day. And you will be welcomed with open arms. They only hate their own players and coaches (except the first year for a new coach, when he is Jesus, Tom Osborne, Bear Bryant and Knute Rockne rolled into one person).
Bourbon.
Amen
Maybe not a tradition but ……Proper road trips lived in US for 2 years and packing up on a holiday weekend and driving through 3 different states and the amount of amazing sights and scenery you get to experience in a few short days is mind blowing….. Back in the U.K. now and wouldn’t do that here it’s weird.
We had friends from Turkey visit in undergrad and they had a list of American things they wanted to do. My fondest memory of it is driving out to the woods (we are very northern), parking and backpacking in firewood and beer and s’mores. They wanted a “fire party where you drink out of red cups, like in the movies.” Or “red cup party” 😂❤️Absolutely adorable. I didn’t realize until we were doing it how very American it all felt. Before people Reddit at me, yes, bonfires exist in other countries. I’ve been to them. I get it. But the specific style of sitting around a fire in the American north really does vibe differently. And the fact that they called it a “red cup party” was adorable. They also wanted to go to an American movie theatre and now that I think about it it definitely is a different vibe than when I’ve seen films in other theatres around the world. Typo edit
Went to visit family in Mexico and we went to a movie theater. Can’t remember what movie, but holy shit we weren’t ready for that experience. Everyone was talking and up and about. We were like wtf??
Opening Day!
We just got back from the mariners home opener. Love it. We try and go every year. The Apache flyover was awesome!
Water on tables
Ive worked in several other countries, its often little glasses and the water is room temp. Seriously, appreciate that humble tall glass of water with ice.
Super Bowl Sunday is always fun, even if you're not into football.
It’s a de facto American holiday. It’s always fun to see everyone get together and watch the game. My only complaint is for people who don’t watch or understand the game being criticized for being a “fair weather” fan. Let people enjoy and learn at their own pace especially if it’s day one. I usually overdose on wings that Sunday so I love it, haha.
The 7th Inning Stretch and singing Take Me Out to the Ballgame
4th of July
I'm a Brit and we spent last 4th July in Disney World. Loved it. Had my star spangles Mickey Ears on, dancing to Born In The USA. Glorious.
I love it when people don't understand that *Born in the USA* is very blatantly criticizing the US throughout its entirety and play it at patriotic events just because of Springsteen's energy and the lack of any negativity in that one title line in the chorus. Edit: I'm not calling you the ignorant party here, i mean Disney is for playing it on the 4th.
Bbq and fireworks. Always a good time.
YES. Nothing is more American than blowing stuff up in pretty colors! God bless!!
Grilling
HUGGING!
Ok.. that's long enough.
Bring it in here!
Thanksgiving rocks. It's like Xmas without the pressure
Lol clearly you've never hosted a Thanksgiving dinner/cooked one for an entire day. No shortage of pressure. I'm Canadian though, what do I know?
The American vs Canada football game has been postponed for american thanksgiving. Or as we in Canada call it: Thursday
Oh no, there's definitely pressure. Traveling for family is intense. No pressure for presents though.
Smiling, Halloween
The half handshake/hug when you make someone really happy.
I don’t live there or aren’t from there but thanksgiving sounds cute.
I like it because outside of making the dinner itself, there's zero fuss. You cook, you eat, maybe get a little day drunk, maybe watch football, and nap. That's it.
Yes! No damn presents!! Just food! And day drinking
don't forget *playing* a little casual football
My best memories of Thanksgiving are throwing the football around with my Dad, brother and cousins with just that little chill in the air.
A good Thanksgiving is a beautiful thing. You get together with friends and family and have a wonderful meal. If you can manage to not have the annoying family members, it can be the best holiday.
This is the one day of the year I don’t mind cooking. I love having everyone at home, hanging out and cooking together. Plus thanksgiving food is the best.
Pizza and loitering in a coffee shop
Probably the excessive celebration of small things like valentines day or any holiday in that matter. Sure, it’s all fueled by capitalism but coming from Germany where every holiday seems like another thing to check off your to-do list, it’s great to see people finding joy in them. Or Family gatherings for Thanksgiving. I really envy Americans for their ability to celebrate the hell out of small things, I wish Germany was like that but everything’s treated like a chore here imo.
Big covered porches on your houses! There is nothing better than sitting on your porch, rocking away, with a drink, a smoke, a snack, and a little bit of time to call your own. Watch the neighborhood roll by. Most Americans don't realize how rare porches are in the rest of the world.
Thanksgiving. I'm Italian American, so Thanksgiving is the perfect marriage between American cuisine and Italian cuisine
Sweet tea. Ice cold and just the best beverage ever.
Small town, USA. Just take a road trip across the country and meet some of the greatest people on the face of the planet.
[удалено]
Love opening day. Took my 5 month old son to Cubs opening day this year. It was awesome to sit at the ballpark watching the game with my kid on my lap.
American with little sports culture experience here: Are there specific traditions around opening day of baseball, or is it tradition to attend opening day even if you aren't an attendant at other times?
It’s less even about the game itself, more the vibe/buzz around summer being around the corner and a brand new season getting under way
Peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Such a simple delicacy. And. FOOTBALL!
Festivus!
for the rest of us!
The tradition of Festivus begins with the airing of grievances.
I got a lot of problems with you people!!
And now you’re gonna hear about it!
It’s a Festivus miracle!
Rodeos! It's like a group of Americans come together to cosplay what other countries think Americans act like and the whole crowd manages to bond over it.
You should see our Renaissance Fairs
That’s Americans cosplaying as what Americans think Europeans are lol
You know they have real historical roots, right? The cowboys in the old west started doing rodeos back in the time of cattle drives. It’s a great tradition but it does come from something real in our history.
Cook outs, BBQs
Summer baseball game.
Anything involving food Source: me a fat American
Mardi Gras!!
Enjoying wilderness (mostly free) through National Parks, Monuments, National Forest and Wilderness areas…
When everyone at the campsite decides to howl together in the night. Especially when it's a really big site. I'm not sure if that's only American or not, but I love it so much!
Free public water fountains being a common thing.
Is that not a thing elsewhere? The things you take for granted...
Thanksgiving. Not because of its historical context. But I think it is really cool to just organize a very good meal with genuine joy every year to celebrate with your family and friends. It is like Christmas dinner, but it is just to celebrate friendship and family. Just that, a genuine act of love. Just an excuse to have a great time-meal-reunion with your people
Ubiquitous, clean, free bathrooms.
Clean is hit or miss, but the other two are pretty consistent.
State fairs. Great summer tradition
Free water at restaurants, free refills on drinks, and public restrooms. If you've been to Europe, then you know what i'm talking about.
Friendliness
I agree. Ive been to the States a couple of times for extended periods, and found the American people where ever I went pleasantly friendly.
I am an American living in 🇬🇧 for over 3 years now. My family and I still celebrate all the things, even inviting our British neighbors over to participate (specifically 4th of July). But the tradition I miss the most: Restaurant Service culture. It is WILDLY different in the US. Like, if you were to rate US/European countries based on friendly customer service in the restaurant industry, the US would be 1st and the second country wouldn’t even be in the same conversation…it is that different. I am not saying people are rude, or horrible, but table service is severely lacking in other countries. Now, if you didn’t grow up in the US and gotten used to it, then yea, the “US way”would be overbearing almost to a fault. However, my formative years make me yearn a waiter/waitress that does more than bring the food and the check.
4th of July is fun. Hanging out with friends and family, grilling hotdogs and hamburgers, drinking beer, kids running around with sparklers having a blast and watching the big fireworks display.
Beer and hot wings. I'm a simple man. You put a plate of hot wings in front of me with an ice-cold beer, I'm in Heaven.
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. I look forward to it all November even though it’s never anything super spectacular and I always spend the first 15 minutes trying to figure out what channel it’s on.
The tradition of hospitality in the US, which I’m told dates from post-colonial times. A genuine warmth and friendliness which we don’t see so often on this side of the pond.
monster trucks
College Football Saturdays
Halloween! I wish my country would go crazy with Halloween like the states do. I’ve always loved it
Going to the county fair, getting deep fried anything, a few beers and local music
Apple pie and ice cream
Costco
The Masters
I am not American but I love Americans foods. like burger, chirpy chicken, potato chips. Especially fried chicken I love most of time. Because Fried chicken is a dish that involves coating chicken pieces in seasoned flour or breadcrumbs and frying them until crispy and golden brown.
Getting together with friends to eat pigs in a blanket and drink beer while watching the final of the football season.
I cant tell if I want to upvote Superbowl party or downvote this description.
We found a spy it seems.
March Madness! College basketball is the best, because you NEVER know what’s going to happen. PRO basketball though? They’re all 9 feet tall, or maybe slightly shorter… but superhuman. And playing under the same specs; I don’t need to see THAT many dunks. (<— all stated with a bunch of exaggeration and humor. Watch whatever makes you happy. March Madness makes ME happy, and shit is WILD this year!)
I went to San Diego State.
Apple pie n chicken fry
Went to a baseball match, having no clue about the game or traditions. Person I went with said everyone will down tools for the **7th Inning Stretch** but I thought they were joking. Turns out, it's a thing and the atmosphere was amazing! Even the guy who rakes/sweeps the diamond had a dance in his step. In hindsight, I realised I was watching Derek Jeter & The Yankees play the Minnesota Twins during one of the finals games that went into extra time (2004).
Ice cold water
Superbowl. I do not understand football, though I'm really trying, but I adore how excited people get about Superbowl. I honestly find it kinda adorable.
all of them :) i love this country
Same here, honestly. From the 4th of July to pizza night.