Americans and Canadians culture Q&A Thread.

[Frozen Canuck]

Ha! Maybe we’ve been on this thread too long - we’re starting to sound like Americans. You’ve heard the old classic: “You’re from Canada? Cool! You must know Dave. Toronto Dave...he works in an office. You know Dave, right?”

 

[tvguy]

My kin are definitely (at least the last time I saw them) right in town limits. I hate to disappoint @prairie_girl though. We are all one big family united under the maple leaf.

My family is all united under the Union Jack.

 

[Frozen Canuck]

My family is all united under the Union Jack.

We won't hold your royal blood lines against you. Ha ha!

 

[ronandannette]

You took that from exquisite to sublime.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Canadians do you get annoyed at being called Canucks? I get annoyed at the British calling us Yanks.

 

[ronandannette]

Canadians do you get annoyed at being called Canucks? I get annoyed at the British calling us Yanks.

Not me; I'm fine with it but honestly, I can't remember the last time I actually heard someone say the term out loud.

 

[Frozen Canuck]

Canadians do you get annoyed at being called Canucks? I get annoyed at the British calling us Yanks.

Well, it doesn't bother me. I use it in my user name. I can't think of when I would ever hear it spoken though, as @ronandannette already mentioned.

I think the term "Yanks" comes from a different place than "Canucks." I get the impression that calling an American a "Yank" is much more of a derogative term. The term "Canuck" is a friendly term that we call ourselves, so yeah, completely different in my mind.

 

[mommasita]

Same, I don’t think I’ve ever been called a Canuck. More a pepper, which is very derogatory. An ugly term used for French people, and I’m not even French.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Same, I don’t think I’ve ever been called a Canuck. More a pepper, which is very derogatory. An ugly term used for French people, and I’m not even French.

What is your heritage if you don’t mind me asking? I thought almost everyone in Montreal has a French ancestor.

 

[Buzz Rules]

My family is all united under the Union Jack.

Even on the 4th of July?

 

[tvguy]

Even on the 4th of July?

Yup. Although one of the best July 4th fireworks shows I ever saw was on July 4th at Candle Lake, Saskatchewan. Nobody in my family involved, it was across the lake from where they live.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Well, it doesn't bother me. I use it in my user name. I can't think of when I would ever hear it spoken though, as @ronandannette already mentioned.

I think the term "Yanks" comes from a different place than "Canucks." I get the impression that calling an American a "Yank" is much more of a derogative term. The term "Canuck" is a friendly term that we call ourselves, so yeah, completely different in my mind.

The British created the term to degrade us during the 7 Years War. We created the song to mock them back during the War of Independence.

Also Chester was a response to it as well:

 

[mommasita]

What is your heritage if you don’t mind me asking? I thought almost everyone in Montreal has a French ancestor.

I don’t mind. I do have French in my family, but I am not. My Great-Grandfather (mom’s side) was born in Ireland, my Grandmother (same side) was 1/2 Irish and 1/2 Micmac. My Father had a Scottish name, but was adopted, and never knew his real birth family.
Montreal has a very large Irish community. Any port city does.

 

[ronandannette]

What is your heritage if you don’t mind me asking? I thought almost everyone in Montreal has a French ancestor.

I don’t mind. I do have French in my family, but I am not. My Great-Grandfather (mom’s side) was born in Ireland, my Grandmother (same side) was 1/2 Irish and 1/2 Micmac. My Father had a Scottish name, but was adopted, and never knew his real birth family.
Montreal has a very large Irish community. Any port city does.

Quite incorrect. As is borne out in Mommasita's post above, almost 35% of Montreal's population come from backgrounds that are clearly Anglo and that doesn't take into account anyone who would identify their background as some other English-speaking ethnicity or from non-French or English backgrounds.

 

[mommasita]

Quite incorrect. As is borne out in Mommasita's post above, almost 35% of Montreal's population come from backgrounds that are clearly Anglo and that doesn't take into account anyone who would identify their background as some other English-speaking ethnicity or from non-French or English backgrounds.
View attachment 662136

If I saw you I would kiss you

 

[ronandannette]

If I saw you I would kiss you

Ah, that must be the Irish in you talking but yeah, I you too!

 

[Buzz Rules]

Canadians, do places like Montreal do anything special for Holy Week?

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

If you mean having a very European feel I think the closest we would have are some of the smaller cities like Solvang.

There are a variety of small towns (or pockets of areas in various larger cities/areas) that have large pockets of either European immigrants or did at some point and kept the tradition alive.

In Kansas that would be likely Lindsborg (less than 4,000 people as of 2020 census) that is well known for it's Scandinavian heritage especially Sweden, the common nickname is "Little Sweden". While I haven't been there (it's just under 3 hours from me) I've seen their Svensk Hyllningsfest (held since 1941 and subsequently every odd years so last one was 2021 next one is 2023) advertised often enough in various travel sites/magazines for areas around me. I'm pretty sure AAA magazine has featured it at some point. It's a festival to celebrate the Swedish heritage but brings visitors around to what is probably an otherwise very sleepy town in terms of outside visitors.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Granted Joe Biden is the oldest president we've ever had, by like 8 years. Trump second oldest. We're usually more in the 50s-60s range. The previous three were 47, 54, and 46 when elected (I didn't realize Bill Clinton was that young when he entered office - he seemed old to me, but I was only 5).

There are a few notable things with Clinton that I remember growing up (his scandal, his trade opening with China, etc) but one thing I always seem to think about Clinton was him playing his saxophone, he was for the most part one of our most chill presidents.

IDK how it is in Canada in terms of aging while serving but in the U.S. it's a good thing we have term limits on presidents. When is the last time y'all looked at how quickly the presidents age while in office? Poor Obama I feel aged so fast.

It has been something that has been talked about in recent years having an upper age limit, I think we're still maybe a generation or two from that happening though. The last election did really bring that to the forefront though given Choice A and Choice B were both of advanced enough age.

 

[mommasita]

Canadians, do places like Montreal do anything special for Holy Week?

The City doesn’t as a whole. The Oratory does, the Basilica, Mary Queen of the World Cathedral, etc. everything is open tomorrow but Sunday major stores are closed, grocery stores are closed, pharmacies are open, and small deps (corner stores). Nice
I actually took tomorrow off, and am off to Magog for the long weekend with friends. My sister has Covid , so naturally she’s sicker and worse than anyone else.. ever