Americans and Canadians culture Q&A Thread.

[Buzz Rules]

40 is good I would say

There's a catchy song for it taught in school called Fifty Nifty that takes you through all the states in alphabetical order. I remember learning as a kid the state capitals and having to remember that some do not make as much sense often because the state capital was chosen years ago and the population may not be that great in the actual city. For example Jefferson City, the state capitol of Missouri (the state next to me) has just over 43,000 people. But Kansas City (the city not even counting the metro as a whole) has just over 508,000 (both numbers from the 2020 census).

As far as Presidents? No I doubt we could name all of them. But there's a catchy song for that too taught in schools. I'd say most can name the earliest and the latest but then there's ones that get lost in the middle unless they are well-know Presidents. We're currently on our 46th.

 

[Buzz Rules]

 

[Aladora]

I guess it really depends. The only part of Canada I've ever been to has been British Columbia, and the culture there is remarkably similar to that of Seattle. I'm pretty sure it's very different than in other parts of Canada.

I've worked with Canadians. I recall one from Newfoundland, and another from around Toronto. The guy from Newfoundland certainly sounded like he was Canadian, but the (ethnic Chinese) Toronto guy I'd have a hard time figuring out where he was from. If I didn't hear him saying anything about Canada I would have guessed he was from Illinois.

I get that there are quite a few things that are distinctly Canadian, but at this point in time, much of Canada are immigrants and a lot of the culture comes from the immigrant population. I heard that about a fifth of the population are immigrants, and then there are the children of immigrants.

So, circling back to sounding like a "Canadian"

We don't have as many regional accents as you do in the States but there are definitely some difference. People who grew up in Newfoundland definitely have a distinct accent and one that I personally adore! Obviously, Quebec natives, if they are Francophone, have an accent when speaking English and I find that people from Montreal have an even more distinctive accent that I can usually pick up on.

People from Ontario, especially Ottawa and Toronto, tend to speak faster than in other regions. I lived in the Ottawa/Hull area for 20 years and have now been in BC for 29 but I still tend to talk really quickly sometimes and have to remind myself to slow down.

I am a child of immigrants, my parents and older sister moved here from South Africa in 1970/71 but I consider myself to be 100% Canadian. My husband, on the other hand, is 16th or 17th generation Canadian.

Yes.

Simply one point of view here, but I was just talking with my friend in the UK this morning about how I feel Canada has more in common with the UK as far as foods (roast beef with Yorkshire pudding was not just for Christmas Eve dinner when I was growing up) and some (not all) word spellings. I feel like both countries have a dry sense of humour. Certain traditions that my family participated in like placing money in birthday cakes and popping what we called fire crackers (fun fact: originally called bangs of expectation) at Christmas dinner, are British traditions.

With the influence of the US just south of the border, Canada can't help but pick up on some of those traits as well, given the amount of influence American media and TV they receive. There are a lot of similarities, but many of them are superficial. Even for food/grocery products that are branded the same in each country, different recipes are used, which result in different flavours. I had a friend who often went to Canada to pick up grocery items like Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup, because it tasted better to her, and my daughter can tell the difference between the smell of Lipton chicken noodle soup from Canada vs. the US when it is simmering. As someone pointed out previously, while holidays and special days seem to align, they are often recognized in different ways. Canada wears a poppy on Remembrance Day (November 11th), while in the US, Memorial Day (May long weekend) is typically the day set aside to recognize those who have died serving their country, while Veteran's Day (November 11) is for those who serve/have served in all wars. Americans typically wear their poppies for Memorial Day, however they 1) are designed much differently than the Canadian poppy, and 2) not NEARLY as many people wear a poppy in the US as they do in Canada (personal observation).

Again, these are just a couple of examples, but having friends in both the UK and the US, I feel like I am more "in tune" with those in the UK, even after years of living in the US.

Re: Remembrance Day vs Veteran's Day/Memorial Day question about poppies.

Do Americans recite "In Flanders Fields?" Weird connection but the person who inspired John McRae to write the poem, Alexis Helmer, went to a high school which was then called Ottawa Collegiate Institute, later renamed Lisgar Collegiate Institute and I went there for most of my high school years, so the poem was very well known to us.

 

[Moliphino]

There's also a lot more of them now (those 'stans always do me in).

This was only about 10 years ago, so I think it's still pretty much the same. I just played the Capitals of Europe quiz until I could do it in a flash.

 

[Buzz Rules]

40 is good I would say

There's a catchy song for it taught in school called Fifty Nifty that takes you through all the states in alphabetical order. I remember learning as a kid the state capitals and having to remember that some do not make as much sense often because the state capital was chosen years ago and the population may not be that great in the actual city. For example Jefferson City, the state capitol of Missouri (the state next to me) has just over 43,000 people. But Kansas City (the city not even counting the metro as a whole) has just over 508,000 (both numbers from the 2020 census).

As far as Presidents? No I doubt we could name all of them. But there's a catchy song for that too taught in schools. I'd say most can name the earliest and the latest but then there's ones that get lost in the middle unless they are well-know Presidents. We're currently on our 46th.

Washington-Clinton, they should add a new one including up to Biden.

 

[TheIncredibles!]

The whole beans on toast thing is redeemed with Poutine. That's all I have..

 

[Buzz Rules]

The whole beans on toast thing is redeemed with Poutine. That's all I have..

Native Americans invented baked beans and I think load potato skins are better.

 

[CdnCarrie]

I tested myself and was able to write down 46 states - forgot Maryland, Iowa, Vermont and Ohio.
It's a memory not a knowledge quiz. Is that the same with most Americans? They know the provinces but just can't remember them?

 

[White Cat]

Because it’s part of world history? Because we’re neighbours?

It’s just not that important. There is no reason to commit that to memory. Most Americans don’t care much about Canada. I know that’s hard to hear but it’s just the way it is.

 

[White Cat]

I tested myself and was able to write down 46 states - forgot Maryland, Iowa, Vermont and Ohio.
It's a memory not a knowledge quiz. Is that the same with most Americans? They know the provinces but just can't remember them?

Most wouldn’t know.

 

[BrianL]

I was just going to say these people need to watch more Animaniacs!

 

[Buzz Rules]

So, circling back to sounding like a "Canadian"

We don't have as many regional accents as you do in the States but there are definitely some difference. People who grew up in Newfoundland definitely have a distinct accent and one that I personally adore! Obviously, Quebec natives, if they are Francophone, have an accent when speaking English and I find that people from Montreal have an even more distinctive accent that I can usually pick up on.

People from Ontario, especially Ottawa and Toronto, tend to speak faster than in other regions. I lived in the Ottawa/Hull area for 20 years and have now been in BC for 29 but I still tend to talk really quickly sometimes and have to remind myself to slow down.

I am a child of immigrants, my parents and older sister moved here from South Africa in 1970/71 but I consider myself to be 100% Canadian. My husband, on the other hand, is 16th or 17th generation Canadian.




Re: Remembrance Day vs Veteran's Day/Memorial Day question about poppies.

Do Americans recite "In Flanders Fields?" Weird connection but the person who inspired John McRae to write the poem, Alexis Helmer, went to a high school which was then called Ottawa Collegiate Institute, later renamed Lisgar Collegiate Institute and I went there for most of my high school years, so the poem was very well known to us.

For Memorial Day we do ceremonies all over the country (the most famous being the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier). I’m not aware of poems recited (I’m sure there are), but most modern Americans sing/hum patriotic and war era songs ingrained in our heads that day (respectfully of course). We have off that day so people have BBQ’s as well.

 

[Buzz Rules]

It’s just not that important. There is no reason to commit that to memory. Most Americans don’t care much about Canada. I know that’s hard to hear but it’s just the way it is.

Not true. Maybe that feeling is more dominant in the South but definitely not in the Northern U.S..

 

[CdnCarrie]

I'm currently reading the novel America's First Daughter about Martha Jefferson.
Our first Prime Minister - John A . Macdonald - is now a highly controversial figure due to his part in residential schools.

Is there a similar sentiment about Thomas Jefferson and his slaves/mistress?

 

[White Cat]

Not true. Maybe that feeling is more dominant in the South but definitely not in the Northern U.S..

That’s true. The border states. But still not the majority.

 

[Skippy918]

Oops!!! It is early!!! I was replying at 5am and obviously did not read very clearly AT ALL!!! Other than your comment on British testing, I have no idea what my brain thought I was reading. My apologies!!!

American history? Well, when I was teaching in Canada, one third of the Grade 7 curriculum was on Canada US relations, so a third of the year was definitely devoted to American topics, some of which would have been history. In Grade 8, once we got through the British stuff for our Canadian history origins, we then went on to do a small bit with how the US fit into our history. (Grade 8 was all about Canadian History.) We obviously took Canadian history again in high school, and went over much of this stuff again. I specifically remember writing a report on the War of 1812 in Grade 11, so I'm pretty sure we were always studying about how Canada fit into the overall picture of the history of the world. Again, it has been a few years now, so things may have changed, but I did feel that we covered much more American history than what my kids received in the US for Canadian history (also in the northeast).

My apologies again!

The history is interesting. I also know that each state does things differently. My son spent all of 7th grade on Texas state history. I grew up in NY and we did state history only in the 4th grade. He’s doing American history this year, world history/geography is 9th grade. I’ll have to ask him if he’s learned about canada.

 

[Sinder]

Not true. Maybe that feeling is more dominant in the South but definitely not in the Northern U.S..

I'm in northern US bordering Canada and White Cat is right. Nobody here (where I am and where I grew up) really cares about Canada except for the kids under 21 that want to go out and legally drink. No offense to Canada it just isn't something we spend time thinking about. I don't remember learning much about it in school either, but that was a long time ago so I'm sure we covered it at some point but like the pp said it just isn't committed to memory.
I am familiar with the National Anthem but that's because it was on the TV show Cheers. It is played a lot at dd's college because half the hockey team is Canadian students.
I have read it is consistently voted the country with the nicest people and you definitely have produced some of the funniest people ever. I want to especially thank Canada for John Dunsworth.

 

[White Cat]

I'm currently reading the novel America's First Daughter about Martha Jefferson.
Our first Prime Minister - John A . Macdonald - is now a highly controversial figure due to his part in residential schools.


Is there a similar sentiment about Thomas Jefferson and his slaves/mistress?

With some people yes. Especially with those that want it to be. But most would understand it’s just how it was in those times. Right or wrong. There is still a lot of slavery in the world today.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

my parents and older sister moved here from South Africa in 1970/71

Have they retained a bit of the South African accent?

We haven't met yet (mostly covid and just life busy) but I do know from my nextdoor neighbor that new neighbors up the street moved last year from South Africa. When I worked at JCP when I was a teen my coworker moved from South Africa as a toddler and didn't have an accent any longer but her mother def. did

 

[Moliphino]

Re: Remembrance Day vs Veteran's Day/Memorial Day question about poppies.

Do Americans recite "In Flanders Fields?" Weird connection but the person who inspired John McRae to write the poem, Alexis Helmer, went to a high school which was then called Ottawa Collegiate Institute, later renamed Lisgar Collegiate Institute and I went there for most of my high school years, so the poem was very well known to us.

I know my sister memorized it in grammar school and can still recite it. I never did (same schools, just 6 years later).