You’ll often hear the US being described as a “melting pot” of cultures; being the third-largest country in the world, there are naturally multiple residents who represent a number of different ethnic groups. This includes Latin Americans, Indigenous Americans, Asian Americans, and African Americans. Therefore, American Culture has the capacity to seem both different and familiar, which can all be achieved through slang, fashion, driving, food portion, and shared values. So, if you’re a proud American who’s intrigued to discover more about the culture, be sure to discover more below.
Religion
First and foremost, the US is predominantly a Christian country, as this religious group accounts for 63% of the population. The second most popular belief system is to be unaffiliated with any religion, as 25.1% of the population has no religious beliefs. Following this is Judaism, with 2% of the American population being Jewish. What’s more, 1% of the population will be celebrating Muharram 2023 as they’re Muslim. Meanwhile, Buddhism and Hinduism account for 1% of the population, respectively. Ultimately, every American citizen has the freedom to follow and observe any religion they wish, which stems from the following values.
Values
Each country has its own set of values and principles, and America tends to be affiliated with the Declaration of Independence. As a result, America’s values are independence, equality, individualism, and materialism. First and foremost, America is the land of the free, so is it any reason that independence sits at the top of its priority list? Similarly, being a “melting pot” of cultures, it’s only right that equality is prioritized, too. As far as individualism is concerned, it’s expected that Americans are self-sufficient. Lastly, the US has the largest economy globally, and this has entirely been built on capitalism.
Holidays
There are various significant holidays in US culture, including New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. As previously mentioned, the US is a “melting pot” of cultures, meaning more holidays than you could ever imagine take place across the country. Similarly, various states have their own local holidays to celebrate, too. Since it would be almost impossible to list every holiday that’s celebrated across the US, those listed above are just those that are observed by the vast majority of the population.
Social Etiquette and Norms
Social etiquette and norms around the world are unique, but they’re the basic actions that locals of a specific area find socially acceptable. For instance, some of the basic social etiquette and norms in the US are: don’t ask personal questions, be punctual, tip correctly, don’t skip lines, be aware of pets, discuss dietary preferences, follow social pleasantries, and be prepared for big portions. These are just some of the most common social etiquette and norms that are observed on a national scale. Different states could have their own individual etiquette, just as much as different cultures within the country could have their own social norms.
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Diversity
The US is a massively multicultural country, meaning that living in America doesn’t just mean experiencing traditional American culture. It also means discovering the lives led by all manner of groups. This means that the US has an incredible amount of cultural value, in which people from different backgrounds can all respect and learn about one another. This makes for an incredibly inclusive space in which everyone feels recognized and valued. With new culture comes new sports, food, traditions, and all manner of things to get excited about!
What’s your favorite thing about modern American culture?
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