Americans and Canadians culture Q&A Thread.

[prairie_girl]

Canadians, have you visited the Tomb of the Unknown soldier before? Do you guys do a military parade like here in the USA? Also happy Veterans/Remembrance Day.

Buzz, it is very, very disrespectful to wish us a happy Remembrance Day. Canada takes the day very, very seriously.

It’s not like in the US when it’s a party day.

Lest We Forget

 

[Buzz Rules]

Buzz, it is very, very disrespectful to wish us a happy Remembrance Day. Canada takes the day very, very seriously.

It’s not like in the US when it’s a party day.

Lest We Forget

I apologize. I meant no disrespect. What is the proper greeting to say on Remembrance Day? I know it’s less of a celebration in Canada but even on Memorial Day in the USA, the greeting is still happy Memorial Day. I truly respect all countries whose soldiers have fought as allies with ours. I’m just confused on what to say on your version of today. I do hope Canadians could still respond to the question about the tomb of the unknown soldier.

 

[SirDuff]

I apologize. I meant no disrespect. What is the proper greeting to say on Remembrance Day? I know it’s less of a celebration in Canada but even on Memorial Day in the USA, the greeting is still happy Memorial Day. I truly respect all countries whose soldiers have fought as allies with ours. I’m just confused on what to say on your version of today. I do hope Canadians could still respond to the question about the tomb of the unknown soldier.

Why do you need to greet people in any special way? You just say 'Hello" or "Good day" or whatever you'd say on any other day.

And which "Tomb of the unknown soldier"? I hope you realise that there is more than one of them in more than one country.

 

[SirDuff]

There tend to be small ceremonies in communities for Remembrance Day. My kids are in Scouts, and my son participated in a small March to the local cenotaph this evening to pay their respects. Schools will have assemblies tomorrow along with a moment of silence at 11:11. It’s a statutory holiday in some provinces, so some here may have tomorrow off. In Ontario we don’t have it off. I do like that the kids get the assembly to teach them about what the day is for.

I attended the ceremony today at the Canadian Mission (they usually do it every year, but haven't the last two due to COVID-19). As far as I know, the US Mission doesn't do anything (at least, none of my American colleagues knew of any thing).

 

[luv2cheer92]

What do you think is the most under-rated area of your country...an area that most people skip or don't think of when traveling, but that has something special about it. (Every nationality welcome to answer. This isn't just for Buzz.)

West Virginia. It is absolutely gorgeous, and very often overlooked.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Why do you need to greet people in any special way? You just say 'Hello" or "Good day" or whatever you'd say on any other day.

And which "Tomb of the unknown soldier"? I hope you realise that there is more than one of them in more than one country.

In America it a special greeting and when we see a veteran on the day (or any other day really) we say “thank you for your service”. @prairie_girl said it’s disrespectful to say happy but here it’s the norm. I do know there is more than one tomb of the unknown soldier but thought the one in the USA was the most famous.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Buzz, what’s your favourite thanksgiving side dish? Would it be the same for Christmas?

Cranberry sauce. I usually only have it on Thanksgiving. I usually have a cranberry stuffing with our Christmas Day meal.

 

[Buzz Rules]

There tend to be small ceremonies in communities for Remembrance Day. My kids are in Scouts, and my son participated in a small March to the local cenotaph this evening to pay their respects. Schools will have assemblies tomorrow along with a moment of silence at 11:11. It’s a statutory holiday in some provinces, so some here may have tomorrow off. In Ontario we don’t have it off. I do like that the kids get the assembly to teach them about what the day is for.

NYC hosts a parade and children write cards to veterans, usually with a colored picture to honor the military.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Buzz, it is very, very disrespectful to wish us a happy Remembrance Day. Canada takes the day very, very seriously.

It’s not like in the US when it’s a party day.

Lest We Forget

I do hope you know we take the holiday very seriously too. It’s not a joke to Americans and we do take great pride in our veterans’ service and honor their service in different ways throughout the day.

 

[prairie_girl]

I apologize. I meant no disrespect. What is the proper greeting to say on Remembrance Day? I know it’s less of a celebration in Canada but even on Memorial Day in the USA, the greeting is still happy Memorial Day. I truly respect all countries whose soldiers have fought as allies with ours. I’m just confused on what to say on your version of today. I do hope Canadians could still respond to the question about the tomb of the unknown soldier.

We have an Unknown Soldier as well. A Canadian Forces guard was killed defending it in 2014.

It’s another reason why today is so special and somber.

I know you didn’t mean any disrespect by your greeting question. Now that you hopefully understand a little more, I say we change the subject to avoid any further gaffes.

 

[Frozen Canuck]

Remembrance Day in Canada is such a somber, heavy, and respectful event. The US's Memorial Day, which would be closest to Canada's Remembrance Day, is held in May to honour military members who have died. However, for some reason, it is literally celebrated by kicking off the summer with barbecues and fireworks. In contrast, I guess it is no wonder that the American's say, "Happy Memorial Day!"

 

[Frozen Canuck]

I do hope you know we take the holiday very seriously too. It’s not a joke to Americans and we do take great pride in our veterans’ service and honor their service in different ways throughout the day.

Just a note for those who are not aware, Veteran's Day (today) recognizes the service of all American veterans, while Memorial Day (in May) is set aside to honour those who have lost their lives in service.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Remembrance Day in Canada is such a somber, heavy, and respectful event. The US's Memorial Day, which would be closest to Canada's Remembrance Day, is held in May to honour military members who have died. However, for some reason, it is literally celebrated by kicking off the summer with barbecues and fireworks. In contrast, I guess it is no wonder that the American's say, "Happy Memorial Day!"

It’s coincides with summer break in southern schools. In America in general, we celebrate every holiday we can. If it’s on a somber subject, we do things to honor that aspect. However, because most holidays now have a sales event for everything, it now has a commercial element to it (unfortunately). Most Americans celebrate things like Memorial Day with an element of joy because some feel the best way to honor the dead is by remembering them but also enjoying the life that their sacrifices allow us to have.

 

[Frozen Canuck]

It’s coincides with summer break in southern schools.

Well, that may be true, but that doesn't really explain things. One of our first years in the US (Illinois, if it makes any difference), my husband came home and said we were invited to a Memorial Day barbecue. I was literally shocked. I had to ask him to explain, because I was like, "They celebrate Memorial Day with a barbecue????" (Not to mention big Memorial Day holiday sales.) It is just so counter to the atmosphere surrounding Canada's Remembrance Day.

This article definitely illustrates the difference between the Canadian and US approaches, from when a US retailer tried to hold a Remembrance Day sale in Canada. Let's just say that things didn't go well, and the person was quoted as saying, “Canadians are very sensitive about the commercialization of this sacred holiday,”

Remembrance Day sales in Canada are 'a rookie mistake,' expert says

ETA: You added a lot more to your response, which wasn't there when I responded to your initial single line.

 

[prairie_girl]

Well, that may be true, but that doesn't really explain things. One of our first years in the US (Illinois, if it makes any difference), my husband came home and said we were invited to a Memorial Day barbecue. I was literally shocked. I had to ask him to explain, because I was like, "They celebrate Memorial Day with a barbecue????" (Not to mention big Memorial Day holiday sales.) It is just so counter to the atmosphere surrounding Canada's Remembrance Day.

This article definitely illustrates the difference between the Canadian and US approaches, from when a US retailer tried to hold a Remembrance Day sale in Canada. Let's just say that things didn't go well, and the person was quoted as saying, “Canadians are very sensitive about the commercialization of this sacred holiday,”

Remembrance Day sales in Canada are 'a rookie mistake,' expert says

ETA: You added a lot more to your response, which wasn't there when I responded to your initial single line.

The thought of commercializing November 11 makes me feel so icky.

We don’t celebrate veterans that are alive, we honour them, if that makes sense.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Well, that may be true, but that doesn't really explain things. One of our first years in the US (Illinois, if it makes any difference), my husband came home and said we were invited to a Memorial Day barbecue. I was literally shocked. I had to ask him to explain, because I was like, "They celebrate Memorial Day with a barbecue????" (Not to mention big Memorial Day holiday sales.) It is just so counter to the atmosphere surrounding Canada's Remembrance Day.

This article definitely illustrates the difference between the Canadian and US approaches, from when a US retailer tried to hold a Remembrance Day sale in Canada. Let's just say that things didn't go well, and the person was quoted as saying, “Canadians are very sensitive about the commercialization of this sacred holiday,”

Remembrance Day sales in Canada are 'a rookie mistake,' expert says

ETA: You added a lot more to your response, which wasn't there when I responded to your initial single line.

Trust me, I wish it was less commercialized but there isn’t really any going back. We usually honor the dead in the morning and then celebrate the life afforded to us by their sacrifice in the afternoon (i.e. bbq).

 

[Buzz Rules]

The thought of commercializing November 11 makes me feel so icky.

We don’t celebrate veterans that are alive, we honour them, if that makes sense.

We split the meaning into two days. It’s celebrating their service/sacrifice not just that they came back alive. People honor the dead as well on the day as well (just more so on Memorial Day).

 

[Frozen Canuck]

The thought of commercializing November 11 makes me feel so icky.

Nothing says "Thank you for your sacrifice," like "Buy three blinds, get one free!" /s

I agree. Icky is the perfect word to describe how it feels.

 

[Frozen Canuck]

A question for Canadians... Did any of you pick up one of the poppies that can connect to an app on your phone and show you the story of a Canadian veteran?

How your poppy can now tell stories of Canadian veterans

 

[Buzz Rules]

NYC hosts a parade and children write cards to veterans, usually with a colored picture to honor the military.

https://nypost.com/2022/11/11/nyc-veterans-day-parade-how-to-watch-what-time-is-annual-event/