Culture in Boston

Culture In Boston

The culture of Boston, Massachusetts, shares many roots with greater New England, including a dialect of the Eastern New England accent popularly known as Boston English. The city has its own unique slang, which has existed for many years. Boston was, and is still, a major destination of Irish immigrants. Irish Americans are a major influence on Boston's politics and religious institutions and consequently on the rest of Massachusetts.

Many consider Boston a highly cultured city, perhaps as a result of its intellectual reputation. Mark Twain once wrote of it, In New York they ask "how much money does he have?" In Philadelphia, they ask, "who were his parents?" In Boston they ask, "how much does he know?" Much of Boston's culture originates at its universities.

Sports are a major part of the city's culture (as well as the culture of the Greater Boston area, and the entire New England region). Boston teams include the Red Sox in Major League baseball, the New England Patriots (who play in suburban Foxboro) in the National Football League, the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association, and the Bruins in the National Hockey League. Boston sports fans are known for their fanatical devotion to the Red Sox and knowledge of Red Sox history. Fenway Park, home of the Red Sox, is the oldest ballpark in the Major League and holds a legendary status among baseball fans.