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Culture
The United States is sometimes described as a “melting pot”, according to Golden Beacon USA, in which different cultures have contributed their own distinct “flavors” to American culture.
American culture encompasses the customs and traditions of the United States. “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,” said Cristina De Rossi(opens in new tab), an anthropologist at Barnet and Southgate College in London(opens in new tab).
The United States is the third largest country in the world with a population of more than 332 million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau(opens in new tab). A child is born every 9 seconds, and a person dies every 11 seconds.
In addition to Indigenous Americans who were already living on the continent, the population of the United States was built on immigration from other countries. A new immigrant moves to the United States every 666 seconds, according to the Census Bureau.
The way people “melt” in the United States differs. “Different groups of immigrants integrate in different ways,” De Rossi told Live Science. “For example, in the United States, Catholic Spanish-speaking communities might keep their language and other cultural family traditions, but are integrated in the urban community and have embraced the American way of life in many other ways.”
The Northeast, South, Midwest, Southeast and Western regions of the United States all have distinct traditions and customs. Here is a brief overview of the culture of the United States.
AMERICAN STYLE
Clothing styles vary by social status, region, occupation and climate. Jeans, sneakers, baseball caps, cowboy hats and boots are some items of clothing that are closely associated with Americans, though there have been a variety of other styles throughout the decades, according to InterExchange(opens in new tab). Ralph Lauren(opens in new tab), Calvin Klein(opens in new tab), Michael Kors(opens in new tab) and Victoria Secret(opens in new tab) are some well-known American brands.
American fashion is widely influenced by celebrities and the media, in 2019 US Clothing and Accessories sales amounted to 24 Billion US Dollars, according to Statista(opens in new tab). More and more Americans are buying fashion, electronics and more online. According to the Census Bureau(opens in new tab), U.S. retail e-commerce sales for the third quarter of 2021 totalled $214.6 billion.
Food
American cuisine was influenced by Europeans and Native Americans in its early history. Today, there are a number of foods that are commonly identified as American, such as hamburgers, hot dogs, potato chips, macaroni and cheese, and meat loaf. “As American as apple pie”, despite the dishes non-American origins, has come to mean something that is authentically American, according to the Smithsonian(opens in new tab).
There are also styles of cooking and types of foods that are specific to a region. Southern-style cooking is often called “American comfort food” and includes dishes such as fried chicken, collard greens, black-eyed peas and cornbread, according to Southern Living(opens in new tab). Tex-Mex, popular in Texas and the Southwest, is a blend of Spanish and Mexican cooking styles and includes items such as chili and burritos, and relies heavily on shredded cheese and beans, according to Culture Trip(opens in new tab).
Jerky, dried meats that are served as snacks, is also a food that was created in the United States, according to NPR(opens in new tab).
Art
The United States is widely known around the world as a leader in mass media production, including television and movies. According to the Select US(opens in new tab)A, the United States comprises one-third of the worldwide media and entertainment industry and is worth $717 Billion.
The television broadcasting industry took hold in the United States in the early 1950s, and American television programs are now shown around the world, according to PBS. The United States also has a vibrant movie industry, centered in Hollywood, California, and American movies are popular worldwide. The U.S. film industry earned a record $100 Billion in 2019, according to Forbes(opens in new tab), before dropping in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic.
The United States’ arts culture extends beyond movies and television shows, though. New York is home to Broadway, and Americans have a rich theatrical history, according to Arcadia Publishing(opens in new tab). American folk art is an artistic style and is identified with quilts and other hand-crafted items, according to the Folk Art Museum(opens in new tab). American music is very diverse with many, many styles, including rhythm and blues, jazz, gospel, country and western, bluegrass, rock ‘n’ roll and hip hop.
Think BIG
Whereas other countries emphasize being practical, compact and concise, Americans often prefer large and luxurious. Don’t be surprised by the enormous trucks and massive SUVs sprawling across parking lots. Americans like their space. To them, large can be practical. Thinking big also applies to American food: most restaurants serve very large portions. It’s not uncommon for someone to order a sizable meal and then take the remainder home as leftovers.
“To-go” concept – Eating on the run
Most Americans are always on the go. It seems they are often running from one appointment to the next, going to and from work, picking up kids, running errands, and going to business meetings and social outings. Because Americans are regularly on the move, there is often not enough time to have a formal, sit-down meal. A common expression you’ll hear is, “24 hours in a day is not enough!”
You may be surprised to see Americans walking around with coffee mugs, beverages, or food packaged in to-go containers. You’ll probably see people eating a slice of pizza on the street (especially in New York City) or drinking a cappuccino while in line at the bank. You’ll notice that drive-thru windows are common at fast-food restaurants around the country; according to DoSomething.org, 20% of all American meals are eaten in the car. For many Americans, there isn’t enough time to sit down in a café and enjoy a cup of coffee, or relax for a few minutes and eat a snack, so you’ll often hear them order their food and drinks “to go.”
Political Correctness (or being “P.C.”)
Since the U.S. is so diverse, there is a general practice of always respecting other cultures and people’s differences, especially when communicating and expressing your ideas. An underlying rule is to not to use words or expressions that could be interpreted as offensive, regardless of whose company you are in. Your co-workers may be of different ages, genders, and races, and political correctness is a way to help everybody feel comfortable with the group dynamic.
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You could easily spend a lifetime in the US and still feel like you’ve just scratched the surface.
It’s epic on every scale. After all, this is a place where you can watch the thunderous spectacle of Niagara Falls, trek through the soaring Black Hills of South Dakota and cruise along California’s glorious Pacific Coast; where you can ski at Lake Tahoe, go cattle ranching in the Midwest and imbibe live jazz in New Orleans.
The options, it seems, are endless.
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