Americans Pretending to Be Canadian While Traveling
A Canadian radio host noted,
“It’s like clockwork. The world gets mad at America, and Americans go, ‘Oh no, quick! To the maple leaves!’”
This phenomenon, known as flag-jacking, has persisted for decades. When America's politics face international disapproval, some US travelers attach Canadian flags or stickers to their luggage in hopes of avoiding negative attention abroad by posing as Canadians.
History of Flag-Jacking
- The practice began during the Vietnam War, when young backpackers stitched Canadian flag patches onto their gear while hitchhiking across Europe.
- Flag-jacking resurged in the 1990s and early 2000s amid the Gulf War and the 2003 Iraq War.
Cultural Reference
In a 2005 episode of The Simpsons, Lisa Simpson explains the tactic to Bart upon arriving 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
With the Trump White House facing global disapproval, many Americans once again seek out red maple leaf patches and stickers online before traveling internationally.
Summary: Americans often adopt Canadian symbols while traveling abroad to escape negative perceptions tied to U.S. politics, a strategy that has been used since the Vietnam War era and resurged during recent conflicts and political climates.