The United States and Canada share a long border and many cultural similarities, but there are still some American traditions that can perplex Canadians. Despite the close relationship between these North American neighbors, certain customs and practices in the U.S. stand out as uniquely American.
These differences, while sometimes subtle, can be quite noticeable to Canadians visiting or living in the States. In this blog, I’ll explore some American traditions that often leave Canadians scratching their heads.
Tipping culture
Americans typically tip 15-20% in restaurants, which is higher than in Canada. Tipping is also expected in more situations in the U.S., like for bartenders or taxi drivers. This extensive tipping culture can be confusing for Canadians used to lower tipping rates. The idea that service workers rely heavily on tips for their income is less common in Canada.
Thanksgiving in November
Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving in October, while Americans do so in November. The American holiday is typically a bigger celebration with more cultural significance. Many Canadians find it odd that American Thanksgiving is so close to Christmas. The different date and scale of celebration can be puzzling for Canadians.
Pledge of Allegiance
The practice of reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in schools is uniquely American. Canadians don’t have a similar daily patriotic ritual in their schools. The idea of pledging allegiance to a flag can seem unusual to many Canadians. This tradition often strikes Canadians as an intense form of patriotism.
Giant food portions
Restaurant portion sizes in the U.S. are often much larger than in Canada. The concept of “supersizing” meals is more prevalent in American food culture. Canadians visiting the U.S. are often surprised by the sheer amount of food served. The large portions can seem wasteful or unhealthy to many Canadians.
Black Friday shopping frenzy
While Black Friday exists in Canada, it’s not as intense as in the U.S. Extreme bargain hunting and overnight store openings are less common in Canada. News reports of crowds and sometimes chaotic scenes in U.S. stores can be shocking to Canadians. Canadians often see the level of consumer excitement over this shopping day as excessive.
Tailgating parties
The tradition of hosting parties in parking lots before sporting events is very American. Tailgating isn’t a common practice in Canada, even for big sports games. The elaborate setups with grills, games, and drinks can seem like a lot of effort to Canadians. The idea of spending hours in a parking lot before a game is often seen as an odd way to celebrate sports.
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Groundhog Day importance
While Groundhog Day exists in Canada, it’s not as big a deal as in the U.S. The extensive media coverage and large events around a groundhog’s prediction seem excessive to many Canadians. The idea of relying on an animal to predict weather is seen more as a quirky tradition than a serious event in Canada. Canadians often find the amount of attention given to this day in the U.S. amusing or strange.
College sports enthusiasm
The scale and intensity of college sports in the U.S. is much greater than in Canada. The massive stadiums, TV coverage, and passionate fan bases for college teams are uncommon in Canada. Canadians often find it odd that amateur athletes can be treated like professionals. The strong emotional and financial investment in college sports can be confusing to Canadians.
Cheerleading as a competitive sport
While cheerleading exists in Canada, it’s not as developed or competitive as in the U.S. The idea of cheerleading scholarships or national championships is not common in Canada. Canadians often view cheerleading more as a support activity for other sports. The level of athleticism and competition in American cheerleading can be surprising to Canadians.
Electoral College system
The U.S. Electoral College system for presidential elections is very different from Canada’s parliamentary system. The idea that a president can win without the popular vote is confusing to many Canadians. The complex state-by-state electoral process seems unnecessarily complicated to those used to Canada’s system. Canadians often find it hard to understand why this system is still used in modern elections.
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