I’m currently traveling around Europe for more than a month. Everywhere I go, I see many people wearing New York Yankees baseball hats. They are clearly not Americans. As a Yankees fan from New York, I wonder what’s going on here. Are the Yankees popular? Is it just a fashion thing? If I talked to these people, would they know anything about baseball?

Basically the title

In Belgium is quite common to send voice notes (at least in Brussels and Wallonia) between friends and sometimes even colleagues, but I sent a voice note to someone from Sweden and they said it’s not so common to do this.

My fellow Europeans, tell me, who supports voice note supremacy?

Being from Sweden, the societal view on buying sex going from Sweden to Germany. While it’s not like everyone likes it in Germany it feels more like a some care, some don’t and the ones that care it’s more like a ”ew gross you bought sex” but in Sweden it is like social suicide. Given it’s illegal, but honestly the legal consequences are lower than how you are perceived socially. It’s like you are murderer who was released from prison.

I am asking semi jokingly. I just want to know what weird cultures make you hate or dislike your country.

I'm interested in terms of society, culture, politics... In what ways are Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland quite similar to the Netherlands. What are the striking differences? On balance, are the differences more significant than the similarities?

On a surface level they appear quite similar - both have a Protestant history, have a high standard of living, most of the nordic countries speak germanic languages... On the other hand, thinking about it, the Netherlands had more of a history of imperialism. Does the Netherlands have the same strong background in welfare-state/social-democratic policies as the Nordics?

I get that “technically” they don’t have political power, but on social media I keep seeing that they still have privileges such as the guarantee to attend military academies, and guaranteed commissioning as an officer, opportunities that the normal person would have to severely compete for.

Additionally, as an American I would have a lot of resentment towards the office of head of state if I was prohibited from being eligible solely because of the family I was born into.

Ok so but if an odd question so let me explain. I’ve heard a few times is that Europeans view the concept of “race” differently than we do in the United States and I can’t find anything to confirm or deny this idea. Essentially, the concept that I’ve been told is that if you ask a European their race they will tell you that they’re “Slavic” or “Anglo-Saxon,” or other things that Americans would call “Ethnic groups” whereas in America we would say “Black,” “white,” “Asian,” etc. Is it true that Europeans see race in this way or would you just refer to yourselves as “white/caucasian.” The reason I’m asking is because I’m a history student in the US, currently working towards a bachelors (and hopefully a masters at some point in the future) and am interested in focusing on European history. The concept of Europeans describing race differently is something that I’ve heard a few times from peers and it’s something that I’d feel a bit embarrassed trying to confirm with my professors so TO REDDIT where nobody knows who I am. I should also throw in the obligatory disclaimer that I recognize that race, in all conceptions, is ultimately a cultural categorization rather than a scientific one. Thank you in advance.

By that I mean names that are so generation specific that it would be absurd for anyone under the age of 50 having it. In Sweden I would say that names like Birger, Kjell and Jerker (need I explain?) would make me question the parents sanity.

I've noticed that although there might be not that many Estonian fans at sporting events (say biathlon or TdF), there's generally surprisingly many Estonian flags. So I'd say almost everyone owns an Estonian flag.

Also this: https://imgur.com/a/belgian-football-flags-hQ1DU

My Lebanese boyfriend is consistently surprised by the amount of wildlife within major Swedish cities and finds it strange that we don't at least spray our public parks to get rid of the bugs, which is apparently the norm where he grew up.

Do you have any examples of your own?

While most tourists are respectful, there's a specific type that acts as if the local culture is inferior and treats our cities like some kind of cheap amusement parks. I recently came across a video of a vlogger bargaining over the price at a small farmers' market in a town. The seller was a 60+ year old lady, selling goods at a very reasonable price. The man was recording right in front of her face, expecting her to give him the food for free. It was clear that the vlogger was well-off, while the woman was dressed in worn-out clothes.

To make matters worse, the woman didn't speak English, and the vlogger was explaining his unwillingness to pay in English and laughing. I doubt you'd see that kind of entitled tourist behavior on camera too often, but it does happen (It's funny how these things can suddenly click into focus, isn't it? I went from vaguely noticing something to seeing it everywhere. It's like you've been subconsciously aware of it for ages, but this video just turned the volume up.)This kind of haggling is not part of the local culture, especially in such a blatant and disrespectful manner. Prices are typically fixed, and most people in the community struggle to make ends meet with their income.

What is considered a big city in your country? For example in The Netherlands many people speak about the big cities when they talk about Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Den Haag (The Hague) and Utrecht. Those 4 cities are all considered big and significant for our country.

Amsterdam is our capital, biggest city and the biggest finance and cultural hub. It has roughly 930k people and in a decade or so probably reaching 1m. Its by far the biggest city in our country.

Rotterdam is the second largest city. Its very much a working class city. The port of Rotterdam is one of the biggest drivers of Dutch economy. Because of this this city with roughly 600k inhabitants has a very entrepreneurial vibe.

Den Haag is the seat of the governement and lots of international organization, most notably the international court of justice. With 560k people its the 3rd largest city in the country.

The last big city is Utrecht. An university city at the middle of the country. Its a major transportation hub. The train station is the bussiest in the country. With around 320k people its by far the smallest of the big cities of the country.

These 4 cities are big by Dutch standards. Like when politicians speak about big cities they often refer to these cities. They often work together about issues regarding bigger cities.

Is there anything similar in your country. When does a city be a big city in your country?

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What surprisingly WASN'T free in a country that shocked you?

In my first trip to Germany, I was genuinely shocked that I had to pay to use toilets in gas stations, restaurants, and even bakeries! Coming from a place where public restrooms are typically free, I found myself frantically searching for coins just to use the bathroom.

What's something in Europe you were surprised wasn't free that you expected would be?

That the wife officially takes her husband's last name here in Italy is seen as very retrograde or traditionalist. This has not been the case since the 1960s, and now almost exclusively very elderly ladies are known by their husband's surname. But even for them in official things like voter lists or graves there are both surnames. For example, my mother kept her maiden name, as did one of my grandmothers, while the other had her husband's surname.

I was quite shocked when I found out that in European countries that I considered (and are in many ways) more progressive than Italy a woman is expected to give up her maiden name and is looked upon as an extravagance if she does not. To me, it seems like giving up a piece of one's identity and I would never ask my wife to do that--as well as giving me an aftertaste of.... Habsburgs in sleeping with someone with the same last name as me.

How does that work in your country? Do women take their husband's last name? How do you judge a woman who wants to keep her own maiden name?

I am myself mo German, but native German speaker, and I often encountered people who tend to be quite hostile against Germans. Also some Slavic friends of mine, arguing that Germans are oppressive and expansive by nature and very rude, unfriendly and humor-less (I fall out of the scheme according to them) although my experience with Germans is very different and I also know that history is far more complex. But often I met many people who still have the WWII image of Germans although a ton has changed the last 70 years...

How deep does this still run in Europe?

Swedish anthem lyrics:

You ancient, you free, you mountainous North

You quiet, you joyous beauty!

I greet you, loveliest land upon Earth,

𝄆 Your sun, your sky, your meadows green. 𝄇

You are enthroned upon memories of ancient days,

When honoured your name flew across Earth,

I know that you are, and you will be, what you were,

𝄆 Yes, I want to live, I want to die in the North. 𝄇

And the part of the Polish anthem mentioning Sweden (or Swedes):

As Czarniecki Poznan town regains,

Fighting with the Swede,

To free our fatherland from chains.

We shall return by sea.

Stefan Czarniecki was a 17th-century hetman, famous for his role in driving the Swedish Army out of Poland after an occupation that had left the country in ruins and is remembered by Poles as the Deluge. With the outbreak of a Dano-Swedish War, he continued his fight against Sweden in Denmark, from where he "returned across the sea" to fight the invaders alongside the king, who was then at the Royal Castle in Poznań. In the same castle, Józef Wybicki started his career as a lawyer in 1765

Hello everybody.

A couple of days ago, I was talking to some Mexican, Ecuadorian and Colombian friends of mine who didn't understand why most Europeans were so reserved about their religion and considered it a private and personal matter or a taboo, especially if compared to Latin Americans or Americans from the USA . They told me even staunch and die-hard atheists and agnostics talk about it in their countries and mention God in every conversation on a daily basis as a common habit due to their family upbringing and no one will roll his eyes about it or frown upon it because they've got the theory thank most Europeans think religion is something backwards and old-fashioned.

For example, it is less likely in Europe for people to ask strangers on the subject (What's your religion?/Do you believe in God?) as a conversation topic or when making small talk in the street, at the bus stop or in a pub or asking during a job interview. Besides, European celebrities like singers, actors or sportspeople are not as prone, open, vocal and outspoken as Latin Americans or Americans to talk openly about their faith or even to thank God for their success when winning an award, a medal or a championship, probably because some people may feel offended or maybe because they're ashamed or get a complex about it, but context and cultural differences will probably play an important role in this case as always.

Sorry for my controversial question and enjoy your summer holidays

Carlos M.S. from Spain

Anything that comes to your mind?

In the case of Korea, Catholic priests actively opposed the dictatorship during the past military dictatorship, so there are quite a few progressive figures who view them favourably, but I heard that there is a strong conservative view in Europe.

Of course, it varies from country to country, but does it tend to be that way in general? Or is it mistaken?

How far away does a shop need to be for you to decide to bike instead of walk, or drive instead of bike?

I'm looking for live concerts, live bands, that kind of stuff !

I am from the bottom of the earth and I want more perspectives