Languages, religion, sports, clothing, food, and holidays of American culture.
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The traditions and practises of the United States are included in the American culture. Cristina De Rossi(opens in new tab), an anthropologist at Barnet and Southgate College in London, said: “Culture encompasses religion, food, what we wear, how we wear it, our language, marriage, music, what we believe is right or wrong, how we sit at the table, how we greet visitors, how we behave with loved ones, and a million other things” (opens in new tab).
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the United States is the third-largest nation in the world with a population of over 332 million (opens in new tab). Every 9 seconds, a child is born, and every 11 seconds, someone dies.
In addition to Native Americans who already resided on the land, immigration from other nations helped to build the population of the United States. According to the Census Bureau, a new immigrant enters the country every 666 seconds.
The London School claims that as a result, the United States is one of the nations with the most diversified cultures in the world (opens in new tab). According to the Library of Congress, nearly every region of the world has had an impact on American culture, most notably the English who conquered the nation starting in the early 1600s (opens in new tab). The civilizations of Native Americans, Latin Americans, Africans, and Asians have also influenced American culture.
According to Golden Beacon USA(opens in new tab), the United States is commonly referred to as a “melting pot” where various cultures have added their own unique “flavours” to American culture. American culture now has an impact on other cultures, just as other cultures have had an impact on American culture in the past. According to ScienceDaily, the term “Western culture” frequently widely refers to the civilizations of the United States and Europe (opens in new tab).
In the US, people “melt” in a different way. Different immigrant groups integrate in various ways, according to De Rossi, according to Live Science. For instance, Catholic Spanish-speaking communities in the United States may maintain their native tongue and other cultural family customs while integrating into urban society and adopting many other aspects of the American way of life.The traditions and customs of the Northeast, South, Midwest, Southeast, and Western areas of the United States are all unique. Here is a succinct description of American culture.
The roots of American culture’s cultural plurality go all the way back to its inception and earlier. During the colonial periods of their respective nations, the English and Spanish people made their homes in America. America’s European heritage was transmitted by these settlers. Its cultural richness has been increased through historical immigration from nations including Germany, Italy, Ireland, and Japan. Without including Native Americans, commonly known as American Indians, one cannot discuss US culture. The early occupants of America had both overt and covert effects on modern American society.
Language:
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According to the US government, there isn’t a single language that is spoken as the national language (opens in new tab). Even though the United States has a population that speaks practically every language in the world, Spanish, Chinese, French, and German are the non-English languages that are most commonly heard. Most government business in the United States is handled in English, which is spoken and understood by 90% of the country’s citizens. Official or preferred languages are used in certain states. As an illustration, the Washington Post reports that English and Hawaiian are both official languages in Hawaii
According to the Census Bureau, Americans speak more than 350 different languages. These languages are divided into four groups by the bureau: Other Indo-European languages include Spanish and German, Yiddish, Swedish, French, Italian, Russian, Polish, Hindi, Punjabi, and a number of others. Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Thai, Tamil, and other Asian and Pacific Island languages are also covered. For languages that didn’t fit into the first three groups, such as Hungarian, Arabic, Hebrew, languages of Africa, and native languages of North, Central, and South America, there is also a category called “all other languages.”
Religion:
In the United States, which was founded on the principle of religious freedom, almost every known religion is practised (opens in new tab). According to data gathered by the nonprofit research organisation Pew Research Center(opens in new tab), roughly 70% of Americans identify as Christians. The study also discovered that 6% of people practise non-Christian religions, or roughly 23% of people, have no religious identification at all.
People who identify as having no religion appear to be fewer in number. The Pew Research Center predicts a decline in this category from 16% in 2015 to 13% in 2060.
America is one of the most religiously developed nations in the world, despite the fact that its governments uphold the principle of separation of church and state. Even if organised religion is on the decline in the US, this is reflected in day-to-day living there. Individuals can practise their religion freely and openly in American society. According to PRRI’s 2020 Census of American Religion, 23% of adult Americans identify as religiously agnostic, while 5% of Americans identify with non-Christian religions. Of adult Americans, 70% identify as Christians.
American Style:
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Styles of dress differ according to socioeconomic class, geography, profession, and climate. According to InterExchange, there have been many different fashions over the years, but several clothing pieces are strongly identified with Americans, like jeans, sneakers, baseball caps, cowboy hats, and boots. Some well-known American companies include Victoria Secret, Calvin Klein, Michael Kors, and Ralph Lauren.
Celebrities and the media have a big impact on American fashion; in 2019, US clothing and accessory sales reached 24 billion USD, according to Statista. More and more Americans are shopping online for clothing, electronics, and other items. The third quarter of 2021 saw $214.6 billion in U.S. retail e-commerce sales, according to the Census Bureau.
American Food:
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Native Americans and Europeans both had an impact on early American food. Today, a variety of meals, including hamburgers, hot dogs, potato chips, macaroni and cheese, and meat loaf, are frequently associated with America. Despite the dish’s non-American beginnings, “as American as apple pie” has evolved to denote something that is truly American, according to the Smithsonian.
There are regionally specific cuisine varieties and cooking techniques. According to Southern Living, “American comfort cuisine” in the South includes foods like fried chicken, collard greens, black-eyed peas, and cornbread. According to Culture Trip, Tex-Mex, which is popular in Texas and the Southwest, is a fusion of Spanish and Mexican cooking techniques and incNewludes foods like chilli and burritos and largely relies on shredded cheese and beans.A food that originated in the United States is jerky, which is dried meat consumed as a snack.
The Arts:
The United States is well-known around the globe for being a leader in the production of mass media, such as television and movies. The Choose US estimates that the media and entertainment market in the United States is worth $717 billion, or one-third of the global market.
According to PBS, the American television broadcasting industry began to take off in the United States in the early 1950s. Today, American television shows are transmitted all over the world. Additionally, the United States has a thriving film industry with its heart in Hollywood, California, and American films are well-liked all over the world. According to Forbes the U.S. film business made a record $100 billion in revenue in 2019 before declining because to the COVID pandemic in 2020.
However, American artistic culture goes beyond the realm of movies and television. According to Arcadia Publishing, Broadway is located in New York, and Americans have a long theatrical tradition. According to the Folk Art Museum, quilts and other handmade products are representative of American folk art. The types of American music are incredibly varied and include rock ‘n’ roll, hip hop, gospel, country & western, rhythm and blues, jazz, and many more.
Visual art created in the United States or by American artists is referred to as American art. Native American art had numerous thriving traditions prior to Spanish colonisation, and wherever the Spanish colonised, Spanish Colonial architecture and the attendant styles in various media swiftly took hold. John White (1540-c. 1593) is the first example of the early reliance on European artists in colonial art on the East Coast.Artists generally painted portraits and a few landscapes in the late 18th and early 19th century in a style that was heavily influenced by English painting. However, in the English colonies, locally created pottery remained steadfastly utilitarian until the 19th century, with fancy wares imported. However, furniture makers copying English patterns and similar craftsmen were also formed in the major towns.
Sports:
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The United States is a sports-loving nation with millions of followers of, among other sports, football, baseball, basketball, and hockey. Baseball is known as America’s favorite pastime, but football has overtaken it in terms of popularity over the past 30 years, according to the Harris Poll. Baseball was founded in colonial America and became an organized sport in the mid-1800s, according to Sparkle Blog.
In the US, sports have a significant role in culture. Baseball has formerly served as the national sport. However, in more recent decades, American football has emerged as the most watched sport on television. Since the 1980s, basketball has become one of the most popular sports in America, followed by ice hockey and soccer at the start of the twenty-first century. The “Big Five” sports are these. After baseball, boxing and NCAA football were among the most popular sports in the first part of the 20th century. Other spectator sports that have a lengthy history of popularity include golf, tennis, and NCAA basketball. The most recent combat sports to break attendance and broadcast audience records are mixed martial arts.
American Holidays:
There are numerous holidays that are solely observed in America. On July 4, Americans commemorate their freedom from Great Britain. Memorial Day, observed on the final Monday in May, honours those who have lost their lives while serving in the armed forces. On the first Monday in September, the nation honours its labour force with Labor Day. Thanksgiving, another distinctly American holiday, was originally observed in colonial times to commemorate the harvest. It is observed on the fourth Thursday in November.
Presidents’ Day is a federal holiday that takes place on the third Monday in February and honours both George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Veterans Day, which is celebrated on November 11, celebrates the contributions of veterans. The third Monday in January is designated as Martin Luther King Jr. Day to honour his achievements to civil rights.
People of America:
Any culture’s foundation is its people. America’s culture is enriched by the diversity of its population. Since ancient times, the nation has welcomed immigrants from all around the world. The contributions made by each immigrant population and their eventual integration into American culture have caused American culture to constantly change and develop.
Ethnicity:
The United States population in 2020 was more racially diverse than it was in 2010, according to a 2021 report from the United States Census Bureau. White, African American, American Indian, Asian American, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and Hispanic or Latino people can all be found throughout the nation. As of the 2020 census, Hawaii, California, Nevada, Maryland, DC, Texas, New Jersey, New York, Georgia, and Florida have the highest levels of ethnic diversity.
Families:
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The family structures in America reflect the nation’s individualistic attitude. Today, most urban Americans believe that nuclear families are the best option. From an early age, children are taught the value of freedom. American kids are commonly expected to be independent by the time they turn 18 and move out on their own. Italian, Hispanic, and Asian households as well as those in cities with expensive housing can be found as outliers to this trend.
Day to day etiquette in American Culture:
It’s time to learn basic etiquette rules now that you’ve reviewed the history, origins, and a broad overview of American society. During your transitional period in America, having a basic understanding of manners can be quite beneficial in preventing awkward situations. Do not be afraid to apologise, rectify your behaviour, and let those around you know that you are learning and will behave better if you offend someone. In general, it’s wise to keep in mind that etiquette is only a set of customs that locals observe. You can take your time learning them as long as your behaviour does not insult, injure, or disrespect those around you.