Americans and Canadians culture Q&A Thread.

[Buzz Rules]

Disney says vacation so therefore it must be the right answer and everyone else in the world is wrong.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Smash Mouth says otherwise….

 

[prairie_girl]

Im going on vacation in two weeks and I’m very excited for it.

 

[Frozen Canuck]

I still say serviette

I always say serviette.

I don't think we ever called them serviettes, they have always been napkins.

Okay, time for another story...

I grew up on a farm in Saskatchewan and was quite sheltered. About the farthest I got from home, other than going to school, was occasionally heading to the Regina Agribition. That is to say, that even French Canadians living within my province were a foreign culture to me. Growing up, I'm pretty sure that we used the terms "serviette" and "napkin" interchangeably. Neither one was considered right or wrong, just different words for the exact same thing.

Fast forward to Grade 11. I started dating a guy who had just moved and was from a different part of the province. I was invited to his parent's home for dinner one Sunday, so of course I was beyond nervous. They had a LOT of kids. Biological kids, adopted kids, and foster kids. I think there were about 13 of them. They lived in the town's nunnery, that was no longer in use by the church, but which gave them two floors of bedrooms, with huge common bathrooms for the whole floor, but I digress...

The mother was very LOUD and overbearing and would bark at people to do certain things or to stop squabbling or whatever. It only sought to add to my apprehension. Eventually, dinner was served (in an actual dining room with a door, which was foreign to me), which had a long dining table the length of it (for the nunnery, after all), and everyone was sitting around it beginning to eat. I was this close to speaking up to ask for a napkin, when one of the other children beat me to it by saying, "May I have a napkin?" WELL...the mother SHRIEKED and said, "It is NOT a NAPKIN! It is a SERVIETTE!!! Napkins are used for something else!!!" I was SO THANKFUL that I had not been the one to open my mouth and ask for a napkin.

If I ever end up in therapy, that moment is going to need to be something I unpack, as that one comment still rings in my ears decades later. I do not think I have called it a napkin in Canada since then. (Americans will generally look at you and say, "What?" if you ask for a serviette, but I am going to assume that very few of them are loud, over-bearing French Canadians who might call me out on my use of the word napkin.) So, "serviette" it is to me, thanks to my boyfriend's mother, who showed me the error of my ways. I won't be making that mistake twice in front of anyone who may speak French!

 

[Buzz Rules]

Canadians do you have any questions on American foods?

 

[Buzz Rules]

Canadians, is it national doughnut day in Canada today like it is in the USA?

 

[NAB]

Canadians, is it national doughnut day in Canada today like it is in the USA?

Yes it is. Had a chocolate dipped donut at Tim Hortons.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Canadians, do you have any Summer traditions?

 

[NAB]

Just camping over the summer.

Putting shorts on for my walk in the morning at 14 C ….If it was the fall under 18 C I’m putting my jeans on.…lol

 

[ronandannette]

Free pancake breakfasts (serving hundreds or sometimes thousands) hosted all over town during Calgary Stampede week in early July. Our city goes into full Yahoo-mode for 10 days and it’s an incredible, festive time for everybody from every background and walk-of-life. And we’re finally back baby, after two long, desolate Covid years!!

 

[Frozen Canuck]

Lots of cities and towns hold Sidewalk Sale Days in the summer, where they shut down traffic on a major street of businesses and the stores pull their wares out onto the streets, food trucks and entertainment are brought in, and outside vendors also bring in items to sell.

 

[OnceUponATime15]

Summer traditions.. Summer is festival season here.. every weekend there is something happening to draw you in. Jazz music in the Beaches, A taste of the Danforth in the heart of Greektown, The Caribbean festival with a colourful day long jump up,(parade) and Island food and music, Salsa on St Clair for latin music, food & culture.. Food truck festivals and weekend Ribfest’s… The Honda Indy car race, Afrofest, Pride celebrations over the month of June. So much to take in.

Also cottage weekends.. relaxing or busy - your choice!

It’s a great season filled with lots of busy weekends!

 

[Buzz Rules]

Canadians, what is favorite thing to make with maple syrup?

 

[Aladora]

Canadians, what is favorite thing to make with maple syrup?

I don't make it myself but my favourite maple syrup product is maple sugar candy. If I could only have one sweet treat for the rest of my life it would be that.

 

[Frozen Canuck]

Canadians, what is favorite thing to make with maple syrup?

We smoke our own bacon and maple syrup is one of the four ingredients (salt, pepper, maple syrup, brown sugar). The maple flavour really comes through.

Maple also goes great on salmon and I often stir it into baked squash.

 

[ronandannette]

There's nothing I specifically make with it. The odd recipe may call for it but honestly Buzz, maple syrup is just a food product; not a way of life.

 

[Buzz Rules]

There's nothing I specifically make with it. The odd recipe may call for it but honestly Buzz, maple syrup is just a food product; not a way of life.

Just curious how much maple syrup is used on a daily basis. I thought of the question just because it’s a national symbol on your flag.

 

[Frozen Canuck]

I thought of the question just because it’s a national symbol on your flag.

The maple leaf is a symbol on our flag, not maple syrup.

I know that people like to joke about how we have maple syrup pumping through our veins, but seriously, how much maple syrup do you think people need in their daily diet? Are you eating pancakes? Great! Pass the (real) maple syrup. Mashed potatoes? Butter is fine, but hold the maple syrup on mine, thanks. We aren't out there trying to fulfill a daily quota for maple syrup consumption, in an attempt to boost the maple syrup industry and support our national economy.

 

[john7994]

The maple leaf is a symbol on our flag, not maple syrup.

I know that people like to joke about how we have maple syrup pumping through our veins, but seriously, how much maple syrup do you think people need in their daily diet? Are you eating pancakes? Great! Pass the (real) maple syrup. Mashed potatoes? Butter is fine, but hold the maple syrup on mine, thanks. We aren't out there trying to fulfill a daily quota for maple syrup consumption, in an attempt to boost the maple syrup industry and support our national economy.

So everything I thought I understood about Canadians is out the window

 

[mom2rtk]

The maple leaf is a symbol on our flag, not maple syrup.

I know that people like to joke about how we have maple syrup pumping through our veins, but seriously, how much maple syrup do you think people need in their daily diet? Are you eating pancakes? Great! Pass the (real) maple syrup. Mashed potatoes? Butter is fine, but hold the maple syrup on mine, thanks. We aren't out there trying to fulfill a daily quota for maple syrup consumption, in an attempt to boost the maple syrup industry and support our national economy.

And just so everyone knows, we don’t all wander around with pistols on our hips. And we don’t all eat hot dogs.