Non-Americans Are Sharing The 15 "Oddest" US Traditions They Can't Believe Are Actually Popular

Joseph Longo
·4 min read

Occasionally, it takes someone with a little perspective to really make you wonder why things are the way they are. On Reddit, @thunderpower1999 asked, "Non-Americans, what is an American custom that you find unusual or odd?" The responses were passionate and thought-provoking. Here are 15 that stood out:

Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

1."I'm a non-American living in America for decades, and I still can't get over marshmallows on sweet potato casserole or whatever the Thanksgiving dish is called. It's minor but still baffling lol. I love both of these foods separately though."

Baked sweet potato casserole in a dish topped with marshmallows, surrounded by pumpkins, cinnamon sticks, marshmallows, and a bowl of brown sugar
Jenifoto / Getty Images

—Independent_Ad_5664

2."I find the length of your election campaigns so crazy."

—None

"I don't think they ever end anymore. Election ends, and next day campaign starts again."

—joshyuaaa

"This. America is perpetually in some sort of election."

—Hullababoob

3."I lived in student housing that was fairly international, and I was the only one to put pumpkins out during decorative gourd season. I painted a few but didn't carve any. I had several international students stop by and politely ask me to explain the pumpkins to them."

A woman in patterned bohemian attire gestures emphatically in a pumpkin patch; several people, including a child in a cowboy hat, look on
Disney / Via youtube.com

"None of them were even remotely satisfied by my attempts. Their poor faces as they walked away more confused and upset by pumpkins than before!"

—GrinsNGiggles

4."Pardoning a turkey at Thanksgiving. Cracks me up every time, and I've lived here 20 years now!"

—sandithepirate

5."I'll never forget when a college schoolmate from China asked me 'Is it true that you have a holiday where children dress up and go around asking for candy?' I had never thought about it before, but all I could say was, "Yes, I guess we do...'"

Person with wild hair and expressive pose in a lively, crowded setting, wearing a theatrical costume with layers and textured patterns
Disney / Via youtube.com

—EverLong0

6."The Canadians I worked with in the oilfield were blown away by all of the television commercials for medicines."

—rufneck-420

7."My friend from India once asked me (an American) to explain Groundhog Day to her. I had no explanation. It's just weird."

A news reporter stands in front of a wooden sign that reads "Phil," while holding a microphone at an outdoor event
Columbia Pictures / Via youtube.com

—marmosetohmarmoset

8."Those grocery bags made from paper with no handles. How the hell do you carry more than one or cope with car keys and other stuff in your hands?"

—Otto1968

9."Let me pull the Uno reverse card on this. I am an immigrant who has been living in the US for a very long time. Getting your leftovers to go at restaurants was a surprise to me. But my reaction was, 'Yeah, why is that not the norm?' Rather than, 'Americans are strange.'"

Two people seated at a dining table; one man smiles, while a woman in a stylish outfit scoops food onto her plate
NBCUniversal / Via youtube.com

—BobTheInept

10."'How are you doing?' is a greeting in the US, not a sincere inquiry."

—None

"And people will look at you weird if you answer honestly."

—ChronoLegion2

"Good afternoon. You are invited to talk about your day for a maximum of 15 seconds."

—cnash

"'Hey, how's it going?' No one ever REALLY wants you to tell them how it's going. It's just a mindless greeting. I had a German person point that out to me once. It really is a dumb custom."

—Intrepid_Swing_1683

11."The obsession with college sports, and in some places, even high school or middle school! I just came back from a work trip to Texas, and one of my colleagues told me the football stadium for his daughter's middle school held 20,000 people!"

A coach in a blue jacket speaks to a sports team in a locker room with plays drawn on a chalkboard behind him
NBCUniversal / Via youtube.com

—Speedbird223

12."Wearing their outdoor shoes in the house. Gross."

—None

"Most people in my region do take our shoes off in the house. It's fairly dusty, so we leave our shoes at the door."

—None

"It is gross, but I don't think it's that common. I hope."

—sailorscouts

13."Pre-cut and pre-packaged vegetables or food. I'm married to a German, and this blew her and her family's minds."

Hand holding a bag of mixed frozen vegetables above an open freezer drawer filled with more frozen vegetables
Tatiana / Getty Images

—chimchum

"It's useful for people with disabilities, though."

—musicmad-123

"I'm all for this. Food prep is a time suck."

—LadybugCoffeepot

"We have this in Germany, though? Not to the extent as some countries, but it does exist."

—biest229

14."Not using bidets."

—Spagg84

"Bidets have become much more common in recent years. We have the attached ones."

—Minute_Box3852

15.Finally, "Brushing your teeth before breakfast, then having breakfast, and not brushing them again. Why wouldn't you wait until after breakfast?"

Two people in casual sleepwear, brushing their teeth side by side in a floral-patterned bathroom
Universal Pictures / Via youtube.com

—Yasmin947

Are there other US customs that you don't understand or don't get why they're so popular? Let us know in the comments below!

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