Americans and Canadians culture Q&A Thread.

[Moliphino]

I was coming here to say this. I live just outside of Boston and I had never heard of Evacuation Day before. I had to look it up after Buzz's statement of


So, living near a Revolutionary War area is not a precursor to being aware of it. (It is apparently only commemorated in Suffolk County.) I have; however, heard of Patriot's Day, which is the 3rd Monday in April, which commemorates the Battles of Lexington & Concord and some of the other battles of the Revolutionary War. It is also the day that they hold the Boston Marathon.

We always got Patriots Day off in school, by virtue of that being the week of April vacation every year.

 

[Buzz Rules]

I was coming here to say this. I live just outside of Boston and I had never heard of Evacuation Day before. I had to look it up after Buzz's statement of


So, living near a Revolutionary War area is not a precursor to being aware of it. (It is apparently only commemorated in Suffolk County.) I have; however, heard of Patriot's Day, which is the 3rd Monday in April, which commemorates the Battles of Lexington & Concord and some of the other battles of the Revolutionary War. It is also the day that they hold the Boston Marathon.

To be honest, Massachusetts in general does Revolutionary history the best. NY is always a mixed bag when it comes to the War of Independence. A lot of historical areas only have plaques to commemorate the events, since many colonial buildings were replaced as NY industrialized. NYS was mostly loyalists territory with pockets of patriots. My family was a mix of both (not uncommon) during the time of the Revolution. Ironically NY was the only colony to originally abstain from the vote for independence.

 

[Aladora]

Americans, do you know why Halifax sends a Christmas tree to Boston every year?

 

[Buzz Rules]

Americans, do you know why Halifax sends a Christmas tree to Boston every year?

https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/boston-commons-christmas-tree-nova-scotia/

 

[Aladora]

https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/boston-commons-christmas-tree-nova-scotia/#app

Sorry, I meant...without Googling it, do Americans know why?

I was listening to an old episode of my favourite podcast this morning, it was all about the Halifax explosion and they mentioned the Christmas tree so it got me thinking about whether or not Americans even knew about it.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Sorry, I meant...without Googling it, do Americans know why?

I was listening to an old episode of my favourite podcast this morning, it was all about the Halifax explosion and they mentioned the Christmas tree so it got me thinking about whether or not Americans even knew about it.

50/50 to be honest. In New England, most definitely. NY/NJ less so. Each major city in every state gets their own traditional tree with their news stations covering their tree’s history. Great story though. Thanks for sharing. We Americans are always there to help our Canadian friends.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Canadians, what other questions do you have for Americans?

 

[Frozen Canuck]

Canadians, what other questions do you have for Americans?

Why do you call "Rockets" "Smarties," when everyone knows that Smarties are candy-coated chocolate?

 

[Buzz Rules]

Why do you call "Rockets" "Smarties," when everyone knows that Smarties are candy-coated chocolate?

https://candyfunhouse.ca/blogs/around-the-funhouse/difference-between-canadian-and-american-smarties

 

[Buzz Rules]

Why do you call "Rockets" "Smarties," when everyone knows that Smarties are candy-coated chocolate?

https://www.mashed.com/192309/the-untold-truth-of-smarties-candies/

 

[Frozen Canuck]

https://candyfunhouse.ca/blogs/around-the-funhouse/difference-between-canadian-and-american-smarties

https://www.mashed.com/192309/the-untold-truth-of-smarties-candies/

Thanks for the links, though I wrote it as more of a tongue-in-cheek statement than anything--that, and to see if @ronandannette was right about their prediction.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Are there American candies that you have not tried but would like too?

 

[lisaviolet]

I always get tagged as Canadian by Americans when they hear me speak. I’m from the Prairies, not known for any type of accent. I honestly think it comes from having an Australian dad and a Canadian mom with a unique accent due to all her travels. I lived in Australia from age 2-5 and had to have voice training when we came home so that I’d lose my accent. I kinda wish I could have kept it.

You would have lost it anyway. The age is around 11 or 12 for keeping accents. It simply works that way biologically.

If you know of any family emigrating from a place with a strong accent, that has varying ages, it is apparent who the younger children are as adults.

I was thinking Hudson Valley/Capital region. I have family from that area and when I have listened to some radio stations from Toronto, they sound similar to me. I know pretty much every state has their own accent and even more within different regions of the bigger states. So let me ask you all this, how well could you tell where an American is from when visiting Canada?

Very simply, well besides some local dialects like the Newfoundland accent, some areas of french in Quebec and dialects like patois etc, it is simply enunciation.

So I am talking non-ethnic/accent general Canadian speech patterns.

I can not even hear the word important on tv, it grinds my ears. It is pronounced, sounds like - in por AN by many Americans. The AN Is said like one is releasing air.

Not every Canadian enunciates every word. But most say that word closer to Im por TinT. You can hear the entire word.

When I visited a former roommate from university in Washington DC, his friends teased me immensely with Li SA, would - you - like - a -noth -er - beer?

Said in jest as clearly and strung long as they could manage through laughter. This has nothing to do with being a slow or fast talker, it is just enunciation.

They would say DJAWANNA NOTHA. (Or NUTTA) BEER?

I can usually tell when someone is from California - not talking San Fernando Valley - it is most definitely as close to a general Canadian accent as any other state. Once again speaking about speech without a cultural accent.

 

[Buzz Rules]

You would have lost in anyway. The age is around 11 or 12 for keeping accents. It simply works that way biologically.

If you know of any family emigrating from a place with a strong accent, that has varying ages, it is apparent who the younger children are as adults.





Very simply, well besides some local dialects like the Newfoundland accent, some areas of french in Quebec and dialects like patois etc, it is simply enunciation.

So I am talking non-ethnic/accent general Canadian speech patterns.

I can not even hear the word important on tv, it grinds my ears. It is pronounced, sounds like - in por AN by many Americans. The AN Is said like one is releasing air.

Not every Canadian enunciates every word. But most say that word closer to Im por TinT. You can hear the entire word.

When I visited a former roommate from university in Washington DC, his friends teased me immensely with Li SA, would - you - like - a -noth -er - beer?

Said in jest as clearly and strung long as they could manage through laughter. This has nothing to do with being a slow or fast talker, it is just enunciation.

They would say DJAWANNA NOTHA. (Or NUTTA) BEER?

I can usually tell when someone is from California - not talking San Fernando Valley - it is most definitely as close to a general Canadian accent as any other state. Once again speaking about speech without a cultural accent.

Thanks for the response.

 

[lisaviolet]

Hockey, will not be too cocky. We might have beaten the US women, but that was most definitely a US led game throughout. We were outplayed.
Our goalie was the hero of that one.

Wait! I will still be cocky if we meet in the finals. And it looks like I am in good company. Some of those looks from players on both sides, when they tried to get in a fast check or extra push, was epic.
Pure evil. I love it.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Hockey, will not be too cocky. We might have beaten the US women, but that was most definitely a US led game throughout. We were outplayed.
Our goalie was the hero of that one.

Wait! I will still be cocky if we meet in the finals. And it looks like I am in good company. Some of those looks from players on both sides, when they tried to get in a fast check or extra push, was epic.
Pure evil. I love it.

Tonight the USA men’s team will win.

 

[seshat0120]

Americans, do you know why Halifax sends a Christmas tree to Boston every year?

Yes. Halifax sent a tree to Boston in 1917 as thanks for assistance with the Halifax Explosion. The gift was sent again in 1971 and has become an annual tradition since then. The tree sent by Nova Scotia is the official Christmas tree of the City of Boston and is placed on Boston Common (prior to 2002, it was at the Prudential Center). At the annual tree lighting, at least one of the performers providing entertainment is from Nova Scotia. This past Christmas singer Heather Rankin and Beolach were at the tree-lighting (I did have to look that up). The connection between Boston and Halifax is highlighted each year.

 

[adkkev]

To be honest, Massachusetts in general does Revolutionary history the best. NY is always a mixed bag when it comes to the War of Independence. A lot of historical areas only have plaques to commemorate the events, since many colonial buildings were replaced as NY industrialized. NYS was mostly loyalists territory with pockets of patriots. My family was a mix of both (not uncommon) during the time of the Revolution. Ironically NY was the only colony to originally abstain from the vote for independence.

I think you need to take a trip around upstate New York, above Westchester County, and visit the various historical areas like the Saratoga Battlefield, Johnson Hall, Fort Stanwix, Schuyler Mansion, Herkimer House, Old Stone Fort, Fort Ticonderoga, Crown Point, just to name a few.

 

[Buzz Rules]

I think you need to take a trip around upstate New York, above Westchester County, and visit the various historical areas like the Saratoga Battlefield, Johnson Hall, Fort Stanwix, Schuyler Mansion, Herkimer House, Old Stone Fort, Fort Ticonderoga, Crown Point, just to name a few.

Thanks.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Anything of interest (not political) happen on either side of the border today for anyone?