In the U.S., peanut butter is so beloved that Americans eat over 1.5 billion pounds of it each year. The tradition of watching football on Thanksgiving Day started in 1876 with a game between Yale and Princeton. Hollywood’s iconic sign originally read “Hollywoodland” when it was built in 1923 to advertise a housing development.

Jazz, one of America’s greatest musical exports, was born in New Orleans in the early 20th century. In American culture fun fact: the popsicle was invented by an 11-year-old boy in 1905 who left a cup of soda outside overnight. Route 66, often called the “Mother Road,” symbolizes freedom and road trips in American culture.

Apple pie is often considered the symbol of Americana, even though it originally came from England. Cowboy hats were not invented in the Wild West—they were created by John B. Stetson in Philadelphia. The Super Bowl is the second-largest food consumption day in the U.S., right after Thanksgiving.

The American flag has been redesigned 27 times—each star represents a state. Drive-thru restaurants were popularized in the 1950s with the boom of car culture. The U.S. has no official national language, even though English is the most widely spoken.

Barbecue styles vary greatly across the country—from sweet Kansas City ribs to tangy Carolina pulled pork. The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France in 1886 and represents freedom and democracy. In American culture fun fact: fortune cookies are actually an American invention, not Chinese.

Baseball is often called America’s pastime, with the first professional team forming in 1869. Americans invented the first roller coaster in 1884 on Coney Island. The cheeseburger was first served in Pasadena, California, in the 1920s.

The U.S. is home to the world’s largest ball of twine, with several towns claiming the title. Halloween in America includes carving pumpkins—a practice that started with turnips in Ireland. Thanksgiving is uniquely American and was first celebrated by Pilgrims and Native Americans in 1621.

American culture fun fact: the U.S. has more museums than McDonald’s locations. New York City’s Times Square was named after The New York Times, which moved there in 1904. The American handshake is a common greeting and symbolizes equality and friendliness.

Yankee Doodle was originally a British song mocking colonists, but Americans adopted it with pride. In American culture fun fact: Elvis Presley bought his famous Graceland mansion for just \$102,500 in 1957. The Fourth of July celebrates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

The U.S. has drive-in movie theaters that became popular in the 1950s and still operate today. Jazz hands and spirit fingers are staples of American cheer and dance culture. S’mores, made from graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate, are a campfire favorite.

America loves its pets—there are more households with dogs than children. The concept of the “melting pot” comes from the blend of cultures brought by immigrants. In American culture fun fact: presidential turkey pardoning is an actual White House tradition.

The bald eagle was chosen as the national bird in 1782, symbolizing strength and freedom. Blue jeans were invented by Levi Strauss during the California Gold Rush. The Pledge of Allegiance was written in 1892 for a school event marking the 400th anniversary of Columbus' voyage.

Hip-hop culture started in the Bronx during the 1970s and quickly became a global phenomenon. The first American zoo opened in Philadelphia in 1874. The idea of Black Friday shopping madness started in Philadelphia in the 1960s.

The American high school prom is a rite of passage that’s uniquely U.S.-based. Reality TV, such as “Survivor” and “American Idol,” changed the landscape of global entertainment. In American culture fun fact: the U.S. celebrates National Donut Day on the first Friday of June.

Tipping culture in the U.S. is deeply ingrained, with 15-20% expected in restaurants. The phrase “OK” is believed to have originated in the U.S. during the 1830s. Route 66 inspired the famous “Get your kicks on Route 66” song from the 1940s.

American diners, with their chrome décor and 24/7 service, are iconic symbols of mid-century life. The U.S. has the largest number of spoken languages in any one country—over 350. G.I. Joe was the first action figure, launched in 1964, and inspired a whole toy industry.

In American culture fun fact: Abraham Lincoln is enshrined in both the penny and the \$5 bill. The first ice cream truck hit the streets of New Jersey in 1920. The U.S. has held presidential elections every four years since 1788.

The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco was once the longest suspension bridge in the world. Comic books, like Superman and Batman, began as American creations in the 1930s. Hot dogs are a staple of American summer, especially at baseball games.

Americans consume over 3 billion pizzas annually. The American South is known for its soul food, rooted in African American heritage. The American “state fair” culture includes butter sculptures, pie-eating contests, and livestock shows.

The U.S. has a National Toy Hall of Fame that includes crayons, LEGOs, and the hula hoop. The Hollywood Walk of Fame has over 2,700 stars honoring entertainers. American culture fun fact: New Orleans’ Mardi Gras includes bead-throwing parades and king cake parties.