1

Backyard Barbecues

Image: Maude Frédérique Lavoie

You say American, you smell a barbecue, isn’t that right? Backyard barbecues are probably one of the most American traditions there is and it is all about that summer fun we all love!

Casual gatherings on a hot summer day to grill some meat is a favorite pastime for all. Adults chat while grilling some burgers or hot dogs, and the kids play. Everyone has fun!

This tradition, like many others, is about good food, good company, and having a great day outdoors.

2

Gameday Tailgating

Image: Scott Madore

Pre-game events? Isn’t the game enough? A tailgate party is a social event held on and around the open tailgate of a vehicle. Tailgating often involves consuming alcoholic beverages and grilling food.

Hours before kickoff, fans tailgatein the parking lot with burgers on the grill and a football to toss. It is a fan gathering, a get-together to celebrate your team and get you in high spirits for the game ahead!

3

Family Game Nights

Image: Stephen Harlan

All it takes are those simple traditions, and sometimes they are the best traditions. A night of family games is an ideal opportunity to spend a few hours around the table having quality time with the ones you love.

Board games, card games, or even video games! It all comes down to bonding, some good-natured rivalry, and some potentially-not-very-serious debates on how to interpret the rules.

4

Turkeys Pardon

Image: Claudio Schwarz

If you don’t comply with many national traditions, this is one you definitely can’t evade. Thanksgiving has many rituals surrounding the holiday, but probably the most bizarre one is the ceremony by means of which the president officially grants a live turkey their pardon.

This is exactly as it sounds, traditionally, the president is gifted a turkey whose life is spared from the stove. The origins of this tradition are disputed but, regardless of who was the first to do so, this tradition continues today and it is one of the things that make Thanksgiving an amazing holiday!

5

Black Friday Shopping

Image: CardMapr.nl

The end of the year can easily become a chaotic time with all the gifts one has to get ready. Just as thousands of turkeys go unpardoned by the president, many shoppers take time to find the right Christmas gifts for their loved ones. The national weekend shopping kicks off with Black Friday, a day in which sales are high and shoppers are on alert . This shopping spree continues with Small Business Saturday and ends with Cyber Monday.

However this is one tradition that can escalate rather quickly, haven’t we all witnessed deadly stampedes or frantic arguments to get that one item?

6

Baby Showers

Image: Ajeet Singh

Celebrating a new child is customary in many cultures. All over the world babies to come are honored in many ways, but the American way is something else.

Baby showers are the traditional way to celebrate the mother and the child. They are gatherings in which friends and family "shower" the mother with gifts for the baby to come. It is worth noting that this tradition has evolved and it includes gender reveals now too.

Thanks to social media and the quick spread of news, baby showers have become a tradition in many countries now, but it all started in America!

7

Supersized Food

Image: Visual Karsa

You’ve surely been to McDonalds or Starbucks, have you ever stopped and thought about how they offer you different sizes of food and cups ? Why is that?

Well, this is already embedded in the American DNA. In our country, fast food or takeaway orders come in different sizes. And that is not all, the smaller size is not small at all; a nd the biggest is exactly as the title says, supersized.

This practice can be traced to the 70s when marketing directors saw a way to sell more for lower prices. This tradition became customary in many countries too, but each nation adapted their sizes to their customers.

8

Trick-Or-Treating

Image: Nick Fewings

Halloween is a festive time, customs come out and decorations get put up. Many cultures follow these traditions, but America is different in that children in our country go on a door-to-door hunt for candy. But that is not all, the practice is not complete until a child says "Trick or treat!"

Lovely as they are to see, the magic words are a requirement to get those precious pieces of candy they will later enjoy with their friends and family . They only have to hope the giver doesn’t require a trick from them!

9

Display Of National Symbols

Image: Serena T

If you are one to watch movies often, we have a challenge for you: try and spot the American flag in the movie you’re watching. No, we don’t work in the film industry, we know for a fact that American pride is shown in many ways, and displaying the American flag is probably the most common one.

Houses all over the country display a flag, American movies have at least one scene in which you can spot it, and the colors dress thousands of objects in all kinds of celebrations . Is there a flag in your front yard?

10

Road Trips

Image: Raphaël LR

Americans are hard workers, but like everyone else, they await those well-deserved holidays to get their feet up and chill out. Regardless of the available budget, which may vary from family to family, road trips are highly popular in our nation and they are not so common in other countries.

Mostly because of how vast the American territory is , road trips are the perfect way to travel and see all the wonders the United States has to offer. True Americans go on at least one road trip in their life, have you done it already?

1

Cabbage Patch Kids

In 1983, every kid wanted to "adopt" one of these soft-faced dolls with their own names and birth certificates . Parents camped outside toy stores and even fought over the last boxes as Christmas approached.

Each doll’s "adoption" story made them feel personal, almost like family members. Their handmade look and unique identities turned them into the ultimate childhood companions.

2

Tamagotchi

The digital pet craze of the late ’90s had kids caring for tiny creatures on pocket-sized screens . Tamagotchis needed constant feeding, cleaning, and attention, or they’d "die". Teachers soon banned them in schools.

For many children, it was their first real experience of digital responsibility and, let’s face it, anxiety.

3

Beanie Babies

In the 1990s, Beanie Babies became a mix of plush toy and stock market fantasy. Each animal had a name, birthday, and poem . Stores sold out within hours, and "rare" models traded for hundreds.

When the bubble burst, most lost their resale value overnight. But the emotional value remained: millions still hold dusty bins full of them.

4

Rubik’s Cube

The colorful cube puzzle was a massive hit in the 1980s. Kids and grown-ups twisted and turned it for hours, desperate to align all six sides . It wasn’t just a game, it was a badge of intelligence and patience.

Competitions sprang up across the country, and solving the cube became a sport. Its mix of color, logic, and timeless frustration kept it alive through generations.

5

Tickle Me Elmo

The Sesame Street doll that laughed when tickled became a holiday legend. It was marketing genius, and the consumers couldn’t get enough of it.

Parents lined up for hours, stores ran out in minutes, and desperate shoppers paid outrageous prices online.

6

Furby

Furbies arrived in 1998, blinking, cooing, and babbling in their own language. They were part pet, part robot, and fully alive to millions of kids .

Children loved that Furbies seemed to "learn" English over time, adding to the illusion of life. With big eyes and unpredictable chatter, they embodied the spirit of late-’90s technology.

7

Slinky

Invented by accident in the 1940s, the Slinky became one of America’s simplest pleasures. Watching it "walk" down a flight of stairs never got old. Every kid wanted that graceful metallic tumble.

Cheap, clever, and endlessly fun, the Slinky inspired songs and commercials, keeping it springing through generations of playrooms.

8

Hula Hoop

When Wham-O released the plastic Hula Hoop in 1958, it instantly became a playground hit. Children spun, twisted, and competed to keep the hoop in motion . Stores couldn’t stock them fast enough.

The fad spread to adults, too, turning parks and beaches into hoop-filled arenas. Simple, affordable, and wildly physical, it managed to capture the interest of a nation for a while.

9

Pet Rock

In 1975, a portion of America fell in love with the world’s easiest pet: a rock. Sold in a box with air holes and a care manual , it was a tongue-in-cheek gag that somehow became a cultural phenomenon.

The creator, Gary Dahl, made millions from the joke, and several similar attempts have been tried since without the same success.

10

Pokémon Cards

In the late ’90s, Pokémon cards turned schoolyards into trading floors. Kids swapped, battled, and bragged over shiny holographic finds , with some cards reaching legendary status.

The thrill of opening a new pack and finding a rare card was intoxicating, and decades later, many collectors still chase that same spark.

11

Hoverboards

In 2015, these self-balancing scooters were all the rage. Celebrities and influencers made them viral overnight, and kids begged for one under every Christmas tree.

They didn’t actually hover, and some even caught fire, but that didn’t stop the craze, which lasted for about a year more.

12

Fidget Spinners

Our last entry is also the most recent one. Fidget spinners first appeared in 2017 as simple gadgets meant to ease stress , but they became an unstoppable playground obsession. Kids spun them on desks, noses, and even fingertips.

Their hypnotic motion made kids and grown-ups alike become enthralled with these little objects that seemed to be just about everywhere and faded into obscurity as quickly as they appeared.

1

Boring, Oregon – "The Most Exciting Place to Live"

Image: everett mcintire

With a name like Boring, Oregon, you’d expect residents to have a sense of humor. Their slogan flips that expectation, proudly calling Boring the most exciting place to live.

The town has even partnered with Dull, Scotland, to form an "International League of Dull Places."

2

Hell, Michigan – "Go to Hell"

Image: Brad Switzer

Hell, Michigan, has turned its unusual name into a marketing goldmine . The slogan "Go to Hell" is proudly displayed on signs, T-shirts, and souvenirs, attracting thousands of curious visitors each year.

Locals have fun with it, running events like Halloween festivals and themed shops.

3

Normal, Illinois – "Everything is just as it seems!"

Image: Zander Betterton

The city of Normal, Illinois, proudly uses the slogan "Everything is just as it seems!" as its official motto, playfully referencing the town’s unusual name .

The name Normal has historical roots: it comes from the French phrase école normale , which described a type of school for training teachers.

4

Peculiar, Missouri – "Where the ‘odds’ are with you"

Image: Brittney Butler

A town with a name that is the exact opposite of the previous entry, Peculiar, Missouri, has also decided to embrace its unusual identity with the slogan "Where the ‘odds’ are with you," adding a playful touch to it

The oddball branding draws curious travelers, and the town celebrates its peculiarity with local events and merchandise.

5

Nothing, Arizona – "All for Nothing"

Image: Christoph von Gellhorn

Nothing, Arizona, an unincorporated community with an ironic name, became known for the phrase "All for Nothing." While not an official slogan, it reflects the determination of residents who built lives in a place with almost no amenities.

The phrase captures both humor and grit, giving the tiny settlement an identity that can be hard to forget.

6

Superior, Wisconsin – "Living up to our name"

Image: Tom Barrett

Superior, Wisconsin, sits on the western tip of Lake Superior, and its slogan, "Living up to our name," highlights both geography and civic pride .

It’s a confident statement that sticks in visitors’ minds. The town blends natural beauty with historical significance, and the slogan reinforces that it considers itself a cut above the rest.

7

Happy, Texas – "The town without a frown"

Image: Daniel Lloyd Blunk-Fernández

Happy, Texas, took its cheerful name and ran with it . Its slogan, "The Town Without a Frown," spreads positivity and conveys a sense of friendliness throughout the community.

The motto has become a source of local pride, turning a small Panhandle town into a feel-good stop that lives up to its sunny reputation.

8

Gas, Kansas – "Don’t pass gas, stop and enjoy it"

Image: Farhodjon Chinberdiev

Gas, Kansas, leans fully into its unusual name with a slogan that makes travelers laugh every time . Located in Allen County, this small town has become a roadside favorite thanks to its cheeky pun.

Rather than shy away from the obvious joke, Gas celebrates it, featuring the motto on signs and even postcards.

9

Lake City, Iowa: "Everything but a lake"

Image: Shawn Schroeder

Lake City, Iowa, proudly uses the slogan "Everything but a Lake." The phrase humorously acknowledges the irony behind the town’s name, since there’s no actual lake within its limits . Despite this, the motto highlights that Lake City has plenty to offer in other ways.

The town’s name was inspired by another town in Illinois, yet Lake City has successfully carved out its own character.

10

Show Low, Arizona - "Named by the turn of a card"

Image: Gerard Albanell

Show Low owes its unusual name to a high-stakes poker game played between two ranchers who couldn’t agree on who would claim the land. The decision came down to a single rule: whoever drew the lowest card would win, and from that moment, the town became known as Show Low.

Even today, Show Low highlights its origin story in tourism and branding, proudly using the phrase "Named by the turn of a card."