There are many cultural differences between Brits and Americans, from food to sense of humor.
As the Harry Potter franchise became a global sensation – with the added confusion of made-up fantasy words – it was no surprise that some things got lost in communication.
Americans took to Reddit to share some of the things they hilariously thought were fictional magic, but are actually just British.
The thread posted on the Harry Potter forum has over 1,200 comments, with the original poster asking: “Non-British readers, what is something from the books that you thought was magical but turned out to be purely British?”
Reactions ranged from treacle tarts to house points at school, causing shock among Brits.
When the extremely British Harry Potter franchise became a worldwide sensation, and the confusion of made-up fantasy words was added to the mix, it was no surprise that some things got lost in communication
Treacle tart
The first thing Americans are confused about is treacle tart – a classic British pastry dessert with a filling of golden syrup.
Over 2,300 people agreed and agreed with the comment – one user wrote: “Same thing, I thought it was something like butterbeer or chocolate frog lol I found out it was real two months ago.”
One fan said: “I didn’t know what it was so I imagined some kind of cake that looked like an octopus or squid. My young mind probably thought treacle = tentacles. And we already had chocolate frogs… so it kind of made sense.”
Others added: “That was the first thing I thought of” and “Are you telling me this isn’t magic???”
Someone else chimed in: “Me too.” “I asked a British friend about it the other day and she said it was divine.”
One Brit replied: “I’m amazed at how many people didn’t know this was a thing… and now I want some treacle tart.”
The first thing Americans are confused about is treacle tart – a classic British pastry dessert with a filling of golden syrup
One Brit replied: “I’m amazed at how many people didn’t know this was a thing… and now I want some treacle tart.”
Schoolhouses
Another popular response was the schoolhouse system, which many Americans assumed was an invented concept for Hogwarts.
More than 1,700 people agree they didn’t know it was a real system in many schools across the UK.
A shocked fan asked: “How are students chosen in the real world?” To which someone replied: “When you first come to school, or in boarding schools, the houses are randomly based on which house you are in want to live.”
Others commented: “THIS! I was shocked to find out that houses actually existed and that my friend’s school owned them. And “Wait, WHAT?”
Brits used the thread to share the names of their schoolhouses and their sources of inspiration.
Someone explained: “My school had beech (yellow), cedar (red), oak (green) and elm (blue) and on our dark blue school ties the school crest had the color of our house, so my tie had the school crest ‘yellow’.
Another said: “Our names were from nearby hills, my fiancée’s names were historical writers (Shakespeare, Marlowe, Chaucer, etc.) and my cousins were names from nearby rivers.”
Another popular response was the schoolhouse system, which many Americans assumed was an invented concept for Hogwarts
Fans commented: “THIS! I was shocked to find out that houses were a real thing and that my friend’s school had them. “Wait, WHAT?”
Poke
An American stated that he did not understand the meaning of “punting,” or traveling in a long, flat-bottomed boat.
They wrote “not necessarily ‘magic,’ but PUNTING.” When Filch had to push students over Fred and George’s swamp, here I was thinking he kicked them like an American football. Do not transport them by boat. “I was overwhelmed.”
An amused Brit replied: “One of the favorite things I’ve learned about American readers is that they actually thought Filch was kicking children through a little swamp. ‘Just wonderful.’
Others added: “Funny thing is that it fits the character perfectly, even though way beyond his physical abilities” and “Yes!!” I can totally understand why American kids/people believed in this, that’s why it’s so funny. You wouldn’t question it.
An American stated that he did not understand the meaning of “punting,” or traveling in a long, flat-bottomed boat
Christmas cookies
An American said he thought Christmas crackers were a magical item.
They commented: “Christmas crackers. I thought they were like…some kind of cracker?
“I was so confused when two characters pulled the crackers apart and there was something inside.
“But I just thought, ‘Oh, this crazy magical world and its giant novelty-filled Cheezits!’
Another agreed: “I’m US and from the context I thought they were like party poppers but with the equivalent of children’s food toys instead of streamers.” I never knew they were one real thing, except Harry compared them to Muggles.’
An American said he thought Christmas crackers were a magical item
Another agreed: “I’m US and from the context I thought they were like party poppers but with the equivalent of children’s food toys instead of streamers.” I never knew they were a real thing, except Harry compared them to Muggles.
Prefects
Similar to the schoolhouse system, prefects are standard in most British schools – not just Hogwarts.
One American wrote: “I read it as ‘perfect’ for about five years and it was perfectly clear to me that if you gave him a title like ‘perfect’, Percy was an idiot.”
Others said, “Me too!!” and “I did that.” “My parents were so confused.”
A Brit added: “I was a prefect in the sixth form.” Had a special colored tie and everything.
“Plus, we were the only ones allowed to walk on the Grass Quad in the school center – everyone else had to walk around it. ‘Oh, the prestige.’
Similar to the schoolhouse system, prefects are standard in most British schools – not just Hogwarts
One American wrote: “I read it as ‘perfect’ for about five years and it was perfectly clear to me that giving him a title like ‘perfect’ meant Percy was off.”
names
Strange names aren’t just in the wizarding world either – the British are notorious for their interesting place names.
Someone commented: “Names. Cornelius Fudge? Bathilda Bagshot? Grimmauld Place? I found them all so bizarre!
“Then come and learn all sorts of silly-sounding names of cities and people as you get older. Upton Snodsbury? Blotusfleming? Benedict Cumberbatch? “The British are especially very creative when it comes to names.”
Another joked: “Just wait until you hear about the street in my hometown called St. Gregory’s Back Alley.”
Strange names aren’t just in the wizarding world either – the British are notorious for their interesting place names
slang
Even simple phrases in conversation have confused some Americans.
One person from the US said: “I didn’t understand what ‘Are you clear, Harry?’ said. everyone told him about it.
“I keep thinking, ‘Why, what was going on?’ As I got older, I found out that it’s the equivalent of ‘What’s going on?’
Another agreed: “Woah I honestly thought he was going through so much shit that they checked his mental health.” Like “Are you okay Harry?”
Trains with food carts
Large train stations and trains with food trucks were another popular response.
Over 150 people agreed with the comment “Trains with food cars and compartments.”
One fan said: “When I went to London I just had to shop in the trolley to feel like Harry Potter.”
Someone explained: “In the ’80s there were smoking carriages. “Absolutely stinky, but usually where you can find a seat on a crowded train.”
Another user added: “As a non-native speaker who only learned English in school and then mostly through reading books, almost all foods sounded strange.”
Large train stations and trains with food trucks were another popular response
Some Americans thought peppermint humbug candies were actually a magical creation
An American wrote “Peppermint Humbugs.” I imagined little red and white cockroaches crawling across the table like a peppermint bug version of chocolate frogs.
Peppermint humbugs
After all, some Americans thought peppermint humbug candies were actually a magical creation.
An American wrote “Peppermint Humbugs.” “I imagined little red and white cockroaches crawling across the table like a peppermint bug version of chocolate frogs.”
Another shocked user asked: “Wait, that’s not them?”, while one Brit explained: “It’s a classic British sweet.” We have a whole range of sweets where the flavored sugar mixture is cooked and hardens.
“These and sherbet lemons are mentioned in Harry Potter.”