American Culture: Behavior, Customs, Etiquette & Values In United States
Writing an article on the culture of America is not an easy task, as the culture is constantly changing and varies from state to state and even within the states themselves. It would be wrong to generalize and speak of ‘American culture’ as a whole, but we shall try and outline some of the typical cultures and beliefs that dare we say, ‘most’, Americans hold and how these have changed over the years.
The American culture has been shaped largely by European ideologies and beliefs such as democracy, Christianity, and civil liberties. But there are many distinctly American aspects of the country’s culture such as their own national holidays, sports, and a very strong sense of national pride. There are also many ethnic cultures in America, and a lot of the modern day culture has been influenced especially by Latin American and African-American cultures.
We shall look at different areas of the American culture in this article such as: language, popular culture (fashion, television, music etc.), sports, religion, and national holidays.
English is the primary language of most Americans, and is the most populous native-English speaking country in the world. Federally there is no native language, but 30 of the 51 US states have officially made English their native language. Spanish speakers are fast becoming a prominent part of America, and the Spanish culture is infiltrating many areas of American life and culture. The majority of Spanish speakers leave in the states closest to the border of Mexico, although there are also significant numbers in New York and Illinois. French is also a much-spoken language especially in the state of Louisiana. Although it is disappearing, native-American languages such as Navajo are still spoken in some parts of the country, such as in areas of Arizona and New Mexico.
American popular culture is also sometimes seen as global popular culture, as so many things that evolve in America are popular around the world. American popular culture has spread itself out through almost every possible medium, ranging from television and fashion through to sports and movies. Television shows like The Simpsons, Family Guy, Two and a Half Men and Desperate Housewives are some of the most popular television shows not only in America but across the world. Ninety-seven percent of American households have at least one television set, and the majority have more than three. In the music industry, household names include Michael Jackson, Madonna, and Elvis Presley to name but a few.
Much of the world’s most popular fashions originated in the USA, including blue jeans - created by Levi Strauss. Jeans are a huge part of American culture, and almost every American owns at least one pair. Outside of the workplace, fashion is generally very informal, and some of the most popular brands include Ralph Lauren, Abercrombie and Fitch, and American Apparel.
Sport is also a very significant part of American culture and it is very unique. Americans tend not to be as involved in world wide sport as they are in their own domestic sports such as baseball, basketball, ice hockey and American football.
Religion in America is an important part of the culture, and it is one of the most religious nations in the developed world. Christianity is the main religion of America, with 78.5% of the population. 1.7% of the population are Jewish, and 15% did not specify a religion or were not religious.
National holidays are also a significant part of the culture in America, and Americans tend to go all out for the holidays. Some of the most celebrated holidays that are generally only celebrated in America include: Independence Day (July 4th); Halloween; Thanksgiving.
Independence Day is a day when American’s celebrate the declaration of independence from the United Kingdom. This is one of the most popular dates on every American’s calendar, and the day is filled with fireworks, barbecues, parades, parties, and carnivals. Many people line the streets of their suburbs and towns to watch parades and enjoy the day with their friends and families.
Halloween is also highly celebrated, and although it is not a federally recognized holiday, it is one of the most exciting. In every suburb in the country you will find children (as well as adults!) dressed up in a whole range of costumes attending Halloween parties and visiting neighbors for some ‘trick or treating’. Most Americans prepare their costumes and parties months in advance. Halloween is held on the 31st October every year.
One of the other best known public holidays in America is Thanksgiving. It is on this day that families come together for a large traditional meal (usually turkey) and give thanks to the harvest and is also a general day of gratitude. Thanksgiving is held on the fourth Thursday of every November.
