Americans and Canadians culture Q&A Thread.

[adkkev]

B&W cookies are dry and kinda bland IMHO.

And when Buzz notes the “TriState” are he’s talking about the area around NYC including northern NJ and CT. There’s quite a bit more to New York State than NYC/Westchester County. Mountains, rivers, lakes, rolling hills, farms, and so on.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Yeah, that’s what I was thinking of.



As far as my experiences, people here don’t really say Italian-Canadian or Irish-Canadian or whatever-Canadian. I would never call myself an Australian-Canadian. I’m ‘just’ Canadian. Just like Joe

I think that’s the difference between melting pot vs mosaic.

 

[Buzz Rules]

B&W cookies are dry and kinda bland IMHO.

And when Buzz notes the “TriState” are he’s talking about the area around NYC including northern NJ and CT. There’s quite a bit more to New York State than NYC/Westchester County. Mountains, rivers, lakes, rolling hills, farms, and so on.

I was including all of NY, CT, and NJ. So thanks for clarifying.

 

[Frozen Canuck]

Well if you do have a lot of extras, you could just send them to me.

At some point, I want to send you a box of all kinds of Canadian treats just so you can try them and know what we are all talking about.

I could send you black and whites, but they might not be the same kind as your family's recipe.

 

[declansdad]

I think that’s the difference between melting pot vs mosaic.

By definition a mosaic means ethnic groups have maintained their distinctiveness while functioning as part of the whole, and a melting pot would have peoples of diverse origins coming together to make a new people.

Given that definition it makes more sense for Canadians to use terms like Italian Canadian and US citizens to simply use the term American. In actual fact, most people I know do just the opposite.

 

[Buzz Rules]

By definition a mosaic means ethnic groups have maintained their distinctiveness while functioning as part of the whole, and a melting pot would have peoples of diverse origins coming together to make a new people.

Given that definition it makes more sense for Canadians to use terms like Italian Canadian and US citizens to simply use the term American. In actual fact, most people I know do just the opposite.

I think, from my perspective, we Americans refer to that more because our states were considered separate colonies (think countries) before the Declaration of Independence. Back then you put your colony before your neighboring state. You would call yourself a New Yorker but a Scotsman/Englishman/Irishman first. After we became 13 united American colonies, we called ourselves Americans. We still kept the blank-American notion partly for prideful reasons and unfortunately as a division in some places for race purposes. Our melting pot is more based on assimilation while your mosaic is more loosely based on the notion.

 

[declansdad]

I think, from my perspective, we Americans refer to that more because our states were considered separate colonies (think countries) before the Declaration of Independence. Back then you put your colony before your neighboring state. You would call yourself a New Yorker but a Scotsman/Englishman/Irishman first. After we became 13 united American colonies, we called ourselves Americans. We still kept the blank-American notion partly for prideful reasons and unfortunately as a division in some places for race purposes. Our melting pot is more based on assimilation while your mosaic is more loosely based on the notion.

Notion? Please explain.

 

[ronandannette]

Wow, I didn't even notice. Maybe it's a small child's hand?

There really aren't that big, not the ones we have. I think that hand belongs to a child.

We had these a lot as kids growing up in NB and I know they are popular in Newfoundland.

It could be, I guess, but the nail polish made me think otherwise.

Yeah, that’s what I was thinking of.

As far as my experiences, people here don’t really say Italian-Canadian or Irish-Canadian or whatever-Canadian. I would never call myself an Australian-Canadian. I’m ‘just’ Canadian. Just like Joe

Yes, just so. One thing have heard though is "African-American Canadian". Now I have never once in my life heard anyone refer to themselves as such, but I've heard 3rd parties refer to black Canadians with the term. It's so illogical, I always laugh a little. I think if one needs such a descriptor, the proper term would be Afro-Canadian.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Notion? Please explain.

Being/becoming American is partly seen as learning and adopting to our customs/traditions/culture=assimilation/melting pot. I personally see Canada as a mosaic but the difference being you don’t impose your country’s culture/traditions on immigrants as much as we are perceived to. I don’t feel either way is wrong, only just different due to our countries place on the world stage (I don’t mean that arrogantly).

 

[prairie_girl]

By definition a mosaic means ethnic groups have maintained their distinctiveness while functioning as part of the whole, and a melting pot would have peoples of diverse origins coming together to make a new people.

Given that definition it makes more sense for Canadians to use terms like Italian Canadian and US citizens to simply use the term American. In actual fact, most people I know do just the opposite.

This is exactly what I was thinking too.

 

[declansdad]

Being/becoming American is partly seen as learning and adopting to our customs/traditions/culture=assimilation/melting pot. I personally see Canada as a mosaic but the difference being you don’t impose your country’s culture/traditions on immigrants as much as we are perceived to. I don’t feel either way is wrong, only just different due to our countries place on the world stage (I don’t mean that arrogantly).

What does your place on the world stage have to do with anything?

 

[AppleDumpling]

Reading through the last few pages and have to say, I love black and white cookies! Grew up eating them here in the suburbs of NYC, where you can get them at many local bakeries (never tried making them myself). LOL, love the Seinfeld reference too.

Not sure if they’re national yet, but if available in your region, Entenmann’s makes a pretty good mini black and white. Though I prefer the traditional full-size ones that are about 4-5” across and an inch thick.

 

[Frozen Canuck]

Found this on What's Different in Canada

 

[Buzz Rules]

What does your place on the world stage have to do with anything?

The perceived standing is what some people try to blend in with. There’s a pressure you feel when your American in comparison to other nationalities. The world has an opinion of you (stereotypical or otherwise), and pre judges you accordingly. When honest hardworking immigrants come here, they often want to feel American culture wise. They hear about the American dream and America’s accomplishments on the world stage and our values (which majority of the population shares). You often hear America is the greatest country on Earth (I’m not saying we are by the way). That increases the pressure to blend in. Canada is a great country to be admired for multiple reasons but it’s not a Superpower, America is. It’s harder (I been told) to get American citizenship in comparison to Canadian citizenship. Being American is seen as a special thing (not that being Canadian isn’t in its own way). This is just my perspective.

 

[EACarlson]

Found this on What's Different in Canada

I have to take offense to maple syrup being included on this list. Native American/First Nations have been making maple syrup for centuries.
Thank you for Poutine, best side dish ever.

 

[declansdad]

The perceived standing is what some people try to blend in with. There’s a pressure you feel when your American in comparison to other nationalities. The world has an opinion of you (stereotypical or otherwise), and pre judges you accordingly. When honest hardworking immigrants come here, they often want to feel American culture wise. They hear about the American dream and America’s accomplishments on the world stage and our values (which majority of the population shares). You often hear America is the greatest country on Earth (I’m not saying we are by the way). That increases the pressure to blend in. Canada is a great country to be admired for multiple reasons but it’s not a Superpower, America is. It’s harder (I been told) to get American citizenship in comparison to Canadian citizenship. Being American is seen as a special thing (not that being Canadian isn’t in its own way). This is just my perspective.

With all due respect, that's pure American BS. Most people outside the US don't say the US is the greatest country in the world, that's an American thing. Being American is only seen as being special to an American.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Found this on What's Different in Canada

We (thanks to the Native Americans) invented the original beaver tail (aka Elephant Ears).
https://www.indianapolismonthly.com/food-and-drinks/recipes/recipe-state-fair-elephant-ears

America invented bubble gum in 1928 (in PA by Walter E. Diemer).

 

[Buzz Rules]

With all due respect, that's pure American BS. Most people outside the US don't say the US is the greatest country in the world, that's an American thing. Being American is only seen as being special to an American.

I agree with the sentiment about being the greatest, as I see all nations as equals. However being an American is special and unless you are one, it’s hard for an non American to understand.

 

[OnceUponATime15]

I agree with the sentiment about being the greatest, as I see all nations as equals. However being an American is special and unless you are one, it’s hard for an non American to understand.

There’s absolutely nothing more special about being an American if you truly believe all nations are equal.
fwiw… Every person feels exactly that way about their homeland, that it’s the greatest place to call home and that we are lucky/blessed to live where we live.

 

[prairie_girl]

With all due respect, that's pure American BS. Most people outside the US don't say the US is the greatest country in the world, that's an American thing. Being American is only seen as being special to an American.

They love to say it, but can’t say why.