# What American cultural stuff is not popular ouside of Nth America? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 18, 2008, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-american-cultural-stuff-is-not-popular-ouside-of-nth-america/445853 "2008-04-18T06:09:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2008, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-american-cultural-stuff-is-not-popular-ouside-of-nth-america/445853/161 "2008-04-20T21:19:02Z")
[QUOTE=blinkingblinking] I remember at school we always had the I am a fifth Greek,a quarter Irish and so on discussions. [/QUOTE] Yes but you’re in a melting-pot country too. Places with mostly homogenous populations (or one or two major minority groups) don’t have that. ---
**Author:** ![blinkingblinking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@blinkingblinking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blinkingblinking)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2008, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-american-cultural-stuff-is-not-popular-ouside-of-nth-america/445853/162 "2008-04-20T22:15:40Z")
[QUOTE=Really Not All That Bright] Yes but you’re in a melting-pot country too. Places with mostly homogenous populations (or one or two major minority groups) don’t have that. [/QUOTE] So what you are saying is that Japanese people do not sit around saying things like ‘My father and mother are Japanese as are all my grandparents and cousins’, ‘Oh really same with me.’ What a pity they do not engage in those fascinating discussions. ---
**Author:** ![sinjin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@sinjin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinjin)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-american-cultural-stuff-is-not-popular-ouside-of-nth-america/445853/163 "2008-04-21T00:51:07Z")
[QUOTE=blinkingblinking] So what you are saying is that Japanese people do not sit around saying things like ‘My father and mother are Japanese as are all my grandparents and cousins’, ‘Oh really same with me.’ What a pity they do not engage in those fascinating discussions. [/QUOTE] I’m sorry this just made me really laugh. 🙂 sinjin: Irish, English, French, German, Norwegian, North American Indian…or as we like to say American Mutt. ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-american-cultural-stuff-is-not-popular-ouside-of-nth-america/445853/164 "2008-04-21T02:45:50Z")
[QUOTE=Really Not All That Bright] Around here all the guys who use blinds use rifles. Bowhunters use elevated platforms but not blinds. [/QUOTE] The bowhunters I know **wear** the blind (camo clothing). A true blind would not only be redundant, but would interfere with drawing the bow. ---
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-american-cultural-stuff-is-not-popular-ouside-of-nth-america/445853/165 "2008-04-21T03:06:18Z")
[QUOTE=Lust4Life] Very weak beer. [/quote] And you can keep it. > [@](#): > > Nutso Christian Fundamentalist organisations. And keep them too. 🙂 American sports (basketball less so), and a gun culture are the first things to come to mind. The only time I’ve felt a really strong sense of culture shock in the US was in a sports store when confronted by the rack-upon-rack of guns. The close tie of schools and sports for college age kids – here that is the domain of clubs / non-profits organizations that are quite separate to the school. Not to say that schools don’t have sports teams – but “club rugby” (for example) pretty much replaces what “college football” is in the States… and 100k people at a match… that’s a Test Match against Oz, not college level, or “provincial” club games. Big eye-opener to attend a college homecoming game in Iowa with 100k people present. Arts and Literature are harder to qualify – the US has the largest English(ish) 🙂 speaking population around, so it’s no surprise that their books, films, etc dominate or have huge impact on the markets in English speaking countries. For myself, a fan of fantasy and science fiction though, it’s hard to say if a particular novel is “American culture” or simply part of the genre. How does a Robin Hobb differ from China Miéville from Neal Gaiman in “American-ness”? (US, UK, and ex-pat UKer in the US respectively). The same goes for films and music – although there are certain genres that originated in the US but have spread around the world. (Movies about American sports are probably less popular outside of the US – but even then are probably more popular than the sports in them). ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-american-cultural-stuff-is-not-popular-ouside-of-nth-america/445853/166 "2008-04-21T06:49:53Z")
> [@](#): > > **An Gadai** : Yeah Country music is huge here. We even have our own local variant called Country & Irish. Country music sprang from Appalachian music which grew from the Irish, Scottish and English music of the immigrants in the Southeastern United States. Even clogging (a kind of dance) came from Celtic dancing. Dontcha know ye own kin? > [@](#): > > **chocolatefrog** : American football. Have never watched a game and I don’t really care to anytime soon. Place the oxygen mask over your face and take several slow, deep breaths. I’ve watched World Cup Soccer and Olympic Hockey – neither of which was familiar to me – and been left breathless by what I saw. I saw Secretariat come in thirty-something lengths ahead of the next horse at the Belmont Stakes and wept for the beauty of it, though I had never bet on a horse. But no sports event is as much of a rush to me as the Iron Bowl: Game day between the University of Alabama and Auburn University – two dead serious rivals in the SEC. And I didn’t even go to school in the state where they are located. An open mind will provide a lot more fun in life. > [@](#): > > **BwanaBob** : People want to believe that college sports are pure and unsoiled but make no mistake, it’s just as big a business as their major league counterparts. What? Say it isn’t so! > [@](#): > > **Downtowner** : the Banjo Probably true, but the only banjo that I ever held was in Denmark. (And I’m from Nashville.) > [@](#): > > **panache45** : And how about national flags? In the U.S. you see flags everywhere, all different sizes, materials and circumstances, even on the front of private homes. I haven’t seen this anywhere else. The home where I stayed in Denmark also sported a national flag from a full sized flagpole in the backyard. I don’t remember if there were a lot of them at other houses. It has been a long tome. ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-american-cultural-stuff-is-not-popular-ouside-of-nth-america/445853/167 "2008-04-21T11:56:11Z")
Oh I thought of one…Hockey! I think North America is the only place where hockey means a game played on ice. To most of the rest of the world hockey is played on grass. Also (here at least) no one gives a shit about any sport anyone plays at uni…they certainly ain’t watching it on tv! To be honest I’m not sure they even play sport…unless drinking is a sport! And if we need a spicey meal it will be Thai or Indian…not cause we don’t like Mexican it’s just hard to get. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-american-cultural-stuff-is-not-popular-ouside-of-nth-america/445853/168 "2008-04-21T13:22:18Z")
[QUOTE=blinkingblinking] So what you are saying is that Japanese people do not sit around saying things like ‘My father and mother are Japanese as are all my grandparents and cousins’, ‘Oh really same with me.’ What a pity they do not engage in those fascinating discussions. [/QUOTE] Well, yes. It might seem obvious but I was merely making the point that while it isn’t an American-only pastime, it’s still pretty unusual. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-american-cultural-stuff-is-not-popular-ouside-of-nth-america/445853/169 "2008-04-21T13:52:00Z")
[QUOTE=calm kiwi] Oh I thought of one…Hockey! I think North America is the only place where hockey means a game played on ice. To most of the rest of the world hockey is played on grass. [/QUOTE] Russia, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, and Switzerland are also nations where hockey is played on ice. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-american-cultural-stuff-is-not-popular-ouside-of-nth-america/445853/170 "2008-04-21T13:57:26Z")
People play it on ice in Australia. Three of them. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-american-cultural-stuff-is-not-popular-ouside-of-nth-america/445853/171 "2008-04-21T13:59:50Z")
[QUOTE=Spoons] Russia, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, and Switzerland are also nations where hockey is played on ice. [/QUOTE] Yes, but they call it ice hockey to distinguish it from field hockey. And the game is played here in the UK. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-american-cultural-stuff-is-not-popular-ouside-of-nth-america/445853/172 "2008-04-21T14:20:59Z")
[QUOTE=Rayne Man] Yes, but they call it ice hockey to distinguish it from field hockey. [/QUOTE] I don’t know Czech, Swedish, or German, but I do speak Russian, where the game on ice is known simply as “khokkei.” (Best I can do at transliterating the Cyrillic.) No “ice” adjective necessary. ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-american-cultural-stuff-is-not-popular-ouside-of-nth-america/445853/173 "2008-04-21T14:31:47Z")
[QUOTE=Spoons] Russia, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, and Switzerland are also nations where hockey is played on ice. [/QUOTE] In Germany, two versions are played, one called “ice hockey” (identical to American hockey) and one called “field hockey” (played on grass). If only the word “hockey” is used, it’s usually understood to mean “field hockey.” I wouldn’t call it an instance of an American sport not being played here. It’s just a terminological matter, “ice hockey” exists and is played along the same rules as American hockey. I believe it has even become more popular than field hockey. ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-american-cultural-stuff-is-not-popular-ouside-of-nth-america/445853/174 "2008-04-21T14:45:59Z")
[QUOTE=Spoons] I don’t know Czech, Swedish, or German, but I do speak Russian, where the game on ice is known simply as “khokkei.” (Best I can do at transliterating the Cyrillic.) No “ice” adjective necessary. [/QUOTE] The Swedes , Germans and Czechs do have “ice” in front of their names for the game :- \*Svenska Ishockeyförbundet Český svaz ledního hokeje Deutschen Eishockey-Bund\* ---
**Author:** ![Szlater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@Szlater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Szlater)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-american-cultural-stuff-is-not-popular-ouside-of-nth-america/445853/175 "2008-04-21T16:26:45Z")
[QUOTE=Schnitte] I wouldn’t call it an instance of an American sport not being played here. It’s just a terminological matter, “ice hockey” exists and is played along the same rules as American hockey. I believe it has even become more popular than field hockey. [/QUOTE] Ice Hockey is not US in origin. British soldiers played it in Canada, and a bit later some Canadians wrote the rules down. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-american-cultural-stuff-is-not-popular-ouside-of-nth-america/445853/176 "2008-04-21T17:02:34Z")
[QUOTE=Szlater] Ice Hockey is not US in origin. British soldiers played it in Canada, and a bit later some Canadians wrote the rules down. [/QUOTE] Good point. Just to add something [from the Perfect Master himself](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/m971210c.html): “… the ‘nation’ referred to in “National Hockey League” is none other than our neighbor to the north, Canada.” “American hockey”? Gah I can just imagine it: four quarters, bright orange pucks, cheerleaders who take to the ice during play stoppages for dance routines to hip-hop music… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-american-cultural-stuff-is-not-popular-ouside-of-nth-america/445853/177 "2008-04-21T17:15:17Z")
Oops, my mistake…the link above leads to an answer by SDSAB staffer Songbird, not Cecil. :smack: Still, it’s a good and correct answer. ---
**Author:** ![BlinkingDuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eada6e/32.png) [@BlinkingDuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlinkingDuck)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-american-cultural-stuff-is-not-popular-ouside-of-nth-america/445853/178 "2008-04-21T21:09:52Z")
[QUOTE=Sage Rat] The one that surprised me is that, apparently, **pumpkin pie** is pretty unknown outside of the US. Or at least in Europe (and probably Japan–certainly never saw it there.) [/QUOTE] Barbarians! I love my pumpkin pie. ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2008, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-american-cultural-stuff-is-not-popular-ouside-of-nth-america/445853/179 "2008-04-22T10:50:29Z")
[QUOTE=BlinkingDuck] Barbarians! I love my pumpkin pie. [/QUOTE] I love roast pumpkin and pumpkin soup. Turning such a yummy veg into something sweet is wrong! Ok not WRONG just different! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2008, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-american-cultural-stuff-is-not-popular-ouside-of-nth-america/445853/180 "2008-04-22T13:16:33Z")
A pumpkin is a fruit, and grows on a vine. How many vegetables do you know that contain seeds? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-american-cultural-stuff-is-not-popular-ouside-of-nth-america/445853.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-american-cultural-stuff-is-not-popular-ouside-of-nth-america/445853.md?page=10)