last edited Aug 14, 2020
Culture and Customs of the United States
Location Map of United States
United States
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Arts, Crafts, and Architecture
Arts
Crafts
Architecture
Almost any city will give you an idea of the very particular urban planning of American cities. More specific, however, are: Manhattan (unique!); Chicago (early 20th-century architecture); Miami and Florida’s east coast (distinctive Florida architecture); Charleston, Savannah, and the plantations (Southern style); New Orleans (the old quarter); Santa Fe (adobe architecture). Also, more historical sites like the ghost towns (or reconstructions) of the West and Williamsburg (pre-Independence America).
Museums
Customs and Traditions
Local Traditions
Etiquette
Dress and Behavior
Sensitive or Taboo Topics
Languages
Glossary
A few local words or expressions useful to know when traveling:
- ATM: Automated Teller Machine or "cash machines." This is the name for cash dispensers available everywhere.
- Buck: a very common slang term for the dollar.
- "No vacancies": sometimes seen displayed at hotel doors. This does not mean the hotel doesn’t accept vacationers, but simply that it is "full."
- RV: or Recreational Vehicle, known in French as a "camping-car."
- Tip: the famous gratuity to leave, especially for bar and restaurant staff (15 to 20% of the bill).
Festivals and Holidays
Holidays and Public Holidays
January 1: New Year’s Day
Third Monday in January: Martin Luther King’s Birthday
Third Monday in February: President’s Day
Last Monday in May: Memorial Day
July 4: Independence Day
First Monday in September: Labor Day
Second Monday in October: Columbus Day
November 11: Veterans Day
Fourth Thursday in November: Thanksgiving
December 25: Christmas
Note that school holidays vary by state, county, or even city. Among these breaks is the famous Spring break, which corresponds to one or two weeks off (often in March). For many young Americans, this often means a series of parties and binge-drinking trips abroad (especially to bypass U.S. alcohol laws), with Mexican beach resorts being a top destination.