It is true that our habits are shaped by our cultures. It becomes easier to observe in cultures where there is a dominant culture. Traditions are passed down from one generation to the next and throughout the country. We have always been instructed by our history professors that the United States is a melting pot or tossed salad of cultures. So how are we to observe this mixture as an American culture? We are so regionally diverse that this makes the observations difficult. One way is to look at early traditions. We have picnics on Independence Day, carve pumpkins during Halloween, give thanks and spend time with family on thanksgiving, celebrate the New Year in drunken bliss. Every year, we celebrate the same holidays in the same or similar fashion. This creates the American culture. It is a hotdog at an A’s game, popcorn at the movies and a Starbucks on every corner. For me it is the little things that define who we are. Even though you can find different cultures throughout the country some things never change.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Chapter 12 - Question #1
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I absolutely agree that our habits are shaped by our cultures. The same way you mentioned some of the American cultural traditions/festivities, I would mention some of the Brazilian cultural traditions/festivities. In Brazil we have Carnival between February and March – which is known all over the world, Valentine’s Day on June 12th, “Festa Junina” – a typical Folkloric celebration in June, Independence Day on September 7th, Children’s Day on October 12th, and so on.
ReplyDeleteDue to the mixed races in Brazil (Europeans, Afro-Brazilians, and Amerindians), these traditions are certainly a mix of different cultures and they have been passed from generation to generation. These traditions indeed constitute Brazilian culture. Although Brazilian culture is somehow influenced by American culture (e.g., McDonald’s, Starbucks, and so forth), these external influences do not what constitute Brazilian culture. Like you mentioned, “some things never change.
Ibirapuera