Accepted parts of Aussie life the world finds baffling

There are many parts of everyday life that are very unique to us in Australia — so unique, in fact, that to other people they’re downright weird.

Considering we’re an island, a fair way from most other countries, it’s no surprise Australian culture has developed quite a unique streak.

And there are many aspects of life down here we accept without question, not realising quite how unusual they are compared to the rest of the world.

In fact, some of these things are downright baffling.

Doing the Nutbush

You know the drill — those funky opening bars of Ike and Tina Turner’s Nutbush City Limits come on and we all make our way to the dancefloor for the mandatory Nutbush dance.

Australians are, believe it or not, the only people on the planet who do the Nutbush. Literally no one else does this. By all accounts, not even Tina knows the moves.

I’ve just learned that they don’t do the nutbush anywhere else other than in Australia

which is at the same time completely baffling and also makes all of the sense in the world https://t.co/SmmwOeCo3I

— Max Quinn (@Maxquinn) July 17, 2019

Eating our coat of arms

While they’re not the most popular meats going around, kangaroo and emu are both eaten across Australia in what is undoubtedly an alarming proposition to other citizens of the world who don’t eat their national animals.

To our knowledge, the English don’t eat lions, Americans don’t eat bald eagles, New Zealanders don’t eat kiwi birds and no Scot has ever eaten a unicorn (which really is Scotland’s national animal).

I’ve just found out that Australians EAT kangaroos and I’ve never felt more betrayed 💔

— enya (@enyalawton) October 1, 2018

Kangaroo meat in particular has seen a surge in popularity in recent years.

Shoeys

For reasons no one can explain, the shoey is a time-honoured Australian custom that simultaneously grosses us out and demands our full respect.

When F1 star Daniel Ricciardo forget to do his trademark shoey after finishing third at the Eifel Grand Prix in October, he knew he had no choice but to explain himself and drink from a shoe in penance.

A hard earned thirst needs a big cold shoe. Picture: Christopher Chan

Fairy bread

None us question why we grew up eating slices of buttered bread with ice cream sprinkles on top because we know to do so would be a federal crime.

So I just found out australians eat this thing called fairy bread? It’s literally a piece of bread with butter & rainbow sprinkles... no comment pic.twitter.com/1voBYyRZyE

— jewell (@frenchFREYs_) October 10, 2018

I know Brits eat like sugar sandwiches, but I just found out Australians eat bread that just has rainbow sprinkles on it AND THEY SERVE THIS AT KIDS BIRTHDAY PARTIES? does that taste... good??

— KC (@heartwormie) November 6, 2020

Walking around with no shoes

You know you’re in Australia when someone’s doing their groceries barefoot and no one bats an eyelid.

It’s probably because our shoes are always wet from all the shoeys.

‘No hat, no play’

An American expat working at an Australian primary school recently raised this as one of the more baffling aspects of Aussie life she’s come across.

But generations of schoolchildren know that “No hat, no play” is a tough but non-negotiable reality of schoolyard lunch and recess.

A special shout out to the kids who boldly rocked legionnaire hats.

School children playing outdoors on climbing equipment in the playground

Beetroot on burgers

There is some regional difference here (lettuce? Fried egg?) but typically, an Aussie burger is defined by the presence of beetroot.

Get into it, world.

I just found out Australians put beets on their hamburgers and I have just one question: WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE DOWN THERE?

— Yr Boi Dylhouse (@bigredrobot) February 9, 2017

There’s nothing like an Aussie burger with the lot. Picture: Annika Enderborg

Shortening words

Servo, bottle-o, Macca’s, Woolies, sanga, postie, cuppa, choccy biccy, avo, arvo, Accadacca. Life’s too short to sound out the full word. The important thing is we know what we’re saying, even if no one else does.

If you can't abbreviate it, it's probably not worth saying.

‘Yeah, nah’ and ‘Nah, yeah’

It’s really simple: “Yeah, nah” means no and “Nah, yeah” means yes. What more does the world want from us?

What have we missed? Tell us in the comments below