Culture involves the customs, habits, and arts that characterize a specific community or nation. American culture consists of the traditions and customs of the U.S. This American culture encompasses food, dress, language, music, religion, and greetings, among other practices. Similarly, it includes both religious and scientific competitiveness, liberal and conservative elements, political structures, materialistic elements, free expression, risk-taking, and moral elements (Storey 100). American culture contains various expressions because of its geographical diversity and geographical location. Historically, America was taken to be a melting pot, with the contribution of immigrants, though it ultimately conformed to typical American culture. However, from the 1960s to the present day, the country has inclined toward pluralism, the salad bowl image, and diversity instead (Lynd 123). This paper aims to explain American culture in sports and holidays.
Sports
Whether you are representing your hometown or tossing a Frisbee in the campus courtyard during a local game, sports remain predominant in American society. Athletics start at an early age, with children joining recreation and parks programs in their hometowns or just playing football in their backyards. They later continue further at competitive levels from primary school up to university, with supplementary programs playing an important role in development and teaching students who may become professionals. Sports remain recreational and leisure activities even afterward as friends catch up in tennis and golf clubs (Tomlinson and Young 45). The huge number of sports is not restricted to ice hockey, baseball, American football, soccer, and basketball but rather comprises a variety of athletic activities. At the professional level, spectator sports are a principal part of American culture and tradition. Families and even friends gather around their televisions or spend hours in traffic to support their desired team, whereas athletes are shaped into international celebrities. The process of developing athletic skills as one grows and engages in athletics has encouraged talented professional growth, lifting athletic entertainment to an international scale (Tomlinson and Young 55).
As children in America learn to “talk and walk,” they also learn to “throw, kick and run.” Numerous kids get exposure to sports at an early age so that the habit of remaining fit and active while enjoying themselves can be instilled in them (Tomlinson and Young 55). Most towns provide recreation and parks programs that sponsor different physical-learning activities like “monthly hikes and sports summer camps.” Additionally, towns regularly create various youth leagues, which allow kids to compete with others. These programs are run by volunteers who emphasize enjoyment, skill development, and sportsmanship.
Sports likewise play a key role in the U.S. education system, whether through compulsory physical education or a supplementary club sport. Middle schools that provide competitive sports prepare athletes and develop skills that assist them in obtaining future opportunities. In addition to classic American soccer, football, baseball, and tennis, schools usually provide competitive programs in field hockey, ice hockey, volleyball, squash, track and field, skiing, running, lacrosse, golf, softball, and wrestling (Tomlinson and Young 70).
After high school, talented players still play in “Division I, II, and III schools” at university. In the process of recruiting, colleges send scouts abroad and across the country to identify the talents they can add to sports teams. Division I regularly provides scholarships that entice athletes to join their institutions. Attracting great, talented young people to their universities gives them a sense of prestige (Tomlinson and Young 70).
The “Big Four” leagues dominate professional sports in America: baseball in Major League Baseball, football in the National Football League, ice hockey in the National Hockey League, and basketball in the National Basketball Association (Tomlinson and Young 70). The teams in these leagues represent regions; they draw large crowds and have many fans.
Holidays
First, Halloween on October 31st is a holiday that provides children with an opportunity to dress as creatively as they can (Storey 66). They run throughout the neighborhood shouting “trick or treat” as well as filling many pillowcases with Skittles and fun-sized Snickers, among other sweet delights. However, even adults play these games.
Second, Thanksgiving, or Turkey Day, on November 26th is a holiday that commemorates the feast shared by the early Pilgrims and Indigenous Americans in the New World. This day unites American families, whereby they cook, watch games, eat, and give thanks for family, food, and good fortune together (Lynd 90). During this holiday, many go back to their hometowns, and workers are given four days’ leave. In addition, Black Friday, November 27th, is a holiday that emerged recently; however, it gets great media attention. After the Thanksgiving holiday, retailers and shops offer great deals on different commodities. Black Friday shoppers regularly struggle with long lines in stores.
Third, Hanukkah, starting at sunset on December 6th and ending at sunset on December 14th, is an eight-day festival of lights that commemorates the holy temple’s rededication after its reclaiming from the Greeks. U.S. Jewish families celebrate Hanukkah by lighting a menorah (Lynd 89). Every day at sunset, a different candle is lit until they finish celebrating. Families likewise share food and exchange gifts. People give out gelt and play dreidel, especially children.
Fourth, Christmas is on December 25th, and most families use it as a time to give thanks and share meals. Most people travel, and other people stay at home since it is one of the periods when they commune with other family members (Lynd 100).
Finally, on New Year’s Eve, December 31st, most people make their New Year’s resolutions. At the same time, others take the opportunity to celebrate the New Year. Traditional methods of celebrating include banging pans and pots, clinking champagne glasses, watching a televised Times Square celebration, and setting off fireworks (Lynd 100).
In sum, American sports and holidays portray American culture. Sports show how the culture is practiced from a young age. Similarly, on different holidays, various practices and traditions are observed (Storey 123). However, America has a diverse culture because it comprises immigrants from various regions.
Work Cited
Lynd, Robert Staughton. Knowledge for What: The Place of Social Science in American Culture. Princeton University Press, 2015.
Storey, John. Cultural Theory and Popular Culture: An Introduction. Routledge, 2018.
Tomlinson, Alan, and Christopher Young. National Identity and Global Sports Events: Culture, Politics, and Spectacle in the Olympics and the Football World Cup. SUNY Press, 2006.
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