Americans Pretending to Be Canadian While Traveling
A Canadian radio host described the phenomenon:
“It’s like clockwork. The world gets mad at America, and Americans go, ‘Oh no, quick! To the maple leaves!’”
This trend, known as flag-jacking, has existed for decades. When America’s political climate turns unpopular internationally, some US travelers display Canadian flags on their backpacks or suitcases to avoid negative treatment by appearing Canadian.
Historical Roots of Flag-Jacking
- The practice began during the Vietnam War when young backpackers sewed Canadian flag patches onto their gear while hitchhiking Europe.
- Flag-jacking saw a resurgence in the 1990s and 2000s during the Gulf War and the 2003 Iraq War.
Popular Culture Reference
In a 2005 episode of The Simpsons, Lisa Simpson explains the concept to Bart in Italy:
“Well, some people in Europe have the impression that America has made some stupid choices in the past, oh, five years. So, for the next week, I’m from Canada.”
Current Trends
As dissatisfaction with the Trump administration continues internationally, many Americans prepare for trips by buying red maple leaf patches and stickers to discreetly signal Canadian identity.
Author’s summary: Many Americans adopt Canadian symbols abroad to avoid backlash due to U.S. political unpopularity, a practice rooted in decades of international travel.
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