30 "Small Joys Of Being Canadian" Americans Won't Get
I love being Canadian — from random acts of kindness to our elite snack game (I'm looking at you, ketchup chips and Coffee Crisp). Honestly, what's not to love? 🇨🇦❤️
Over on Reddit, people have been sharing the "small joys of being Canadian" that make life up north feel extra special (and that most Americans wouldn't understand). Here are some moments that made my frozen Canadian heart melt after reading:
"The way we smile and say hello to strangers just because we're friendly that way."
"Access to a wide variety of nature, dark spaces, uninhabited, undeveloped areas, etc... I've lived in a few different areas of Canada and even in big cities, you don't have to try hard or go far to be completely in nature."
"The special silence of a snowfall."
—GloomyCamel6050
"I love to see the sudden warmth that people across the world display when they learn I'm Canadian! There's nothing quite like seeing a stranger's face light up simply because of the country I'm from. The demeanour changes from neutral/unengaged to happy/excited/interested and we'll usually end up having a nice chat. It's such a lovely reminder of how well the world views Canada."
"Hearing the term 'cobra chicken' for the first time and knowing exactly what it means. Being proud of Terry Fox, Tommy Douglas and Laura Secord. Knowing who 'Anne with an E' is."
"I live in a ski town and my favourite nights are when I work late and have to walk to my car, and there's fresh snow, no footprints, and no one else around. It's like the whole world has a blanket over its voice."
"Maple syrup on everything, even $100 banknotes."
—FlyingOctopus53
"The beer. We make some great beer. I spent 8 years in the States. They also make great beer, but you have to look really hard. Their everyday selections are, to quote Monty Python, "like making love in a canoe. They're fu**ing close to water."
"I live in the UK now, but it came up a few years ago that I've eaten frozen snow maple sap out of a tree on a popsicle stick as a part of a school field trip. I had forgotten all about it, but the joy and confusion on everyone's faces in the room when they thought I had made it up was great. We're a nation of funny little habits and I love it."
"Knowing a sort of peace that is dwindling in the world."
"Tobogganing in the winter, playing in the snow, sliding down hills in just your snow pants especially when they start to get a bit icy."
—Magneto-X
"The way we excuse ourselves moving past each other in the grocery store like: 'i'm just going to sneak past ya,' it's weirdly universal and everyone is so friendly about it."
"People don't 'lawyer up' over petty things."
"Learning about Chris Hadfield in school and knowing he was ours was always a source of joy, especially since he's so invested in sharing his experiences. I love that when you travel around the world to natural history museums, you can find all kinds of dinosaur bones, fossils, rocks, gemstones, etc., all sourced from Canada. It makes it feel like we're contributing to education all over the world. Oh, and I love that the money is coloured."
"Skating and playing hockey on an outdoor rink."
"Log Riders Waltz. And of course, the rest of the National Film Board cartoons. Follow me on a walk down memory lane..."
"Speaking Ukrainian with my Iranian born barber. At one point we realized the absurdity of it, and he said that he just loves this country, and so do I."
"Learning French via packaging."
—NetLumpy1818
"Striking up conversations with random strangers. My in-laws would visit from overseas and were always surprised at how easily people could talk to each other. They would ask me: 'you know this person?' And I'd be like 'no, we're just chatting'."
"No guns. Health care. Kindness. Politeness. No guns."
"Being out on a hike somewhere remote, sitting by a lake or river. Everything's silent except for the water and a few birds. The scenery around you is unspoiled wilderness and you know there's likely no other humans around for miles. Our country's natural beauty is unmatched."
—KinkyMillennial
"It's never once occurred to me that I have to worry about going broke from healthcare."
"You're Watch-ing Tree-House" — The five notes of that tv channel jingle are burned into my brain."
"Fu**ing Buckleys. I was in a car with friends and we stopped at a pharmacy because he had a cough. Bought Buckleys, got back in the passenger seat, took a swig and spat it all over the windshield. Good times."
—yarn_slinger
"Mocking American politics."
"The ever changing weather (sometimes in a single day) has made me prepared for the unexpected and able to go with the flow. Also, since hockey is so popular, we can save our aggression for the rink or vicariously through the player."
"Leaving my purse at the restaurant and it's there when I go back to get it."
"Keep It Weird, on YTV."
—The_Windermere
"Believing that there's a house hippo. Most other nations won't get it, but Canadians might."
"No guns unless you're into hunting. I've never once felt unsafe walking around my hometown, or any major city I've visited. I enjoy my universal healthcare, ice hockey and Canadian music. I like being able to visit other countries and have people ask if I'm American, only to say I'm Canadian and people tell me how much they respect us (despite the issues we have). I love how diverse our nation has become and how inclusive a majority of the country is (don't let the loud minority fool you). I find the stereotypes hilarious about being lumberjacks, living in igloos, 'sorry' and 'eh' in every sentence. But most of all, I love the people. Vive Le Canada! 🇨🇦."
It really is the little things that make life so much better. Whether it's that first sip of Timmies on a cold morning or the joy from a first snowfall, these small Canadian joys are a reminder of how lucky we are to call this country home. 🍁🍁
What's YOUR favourite "small joy" of being Canadian? Drop it in the comments — we want to hear them all!
And if you like more Canadian content like this, take a look at BuzzFeed Canada's Instagram and TikTok socials!
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