15 Things Not From The Country You Think

The French horn is not French; it is German. The instrument started based on hunting horns.The instrument was based on hunting horns.Germans modified it to make larger, flared bells. A German man created the valves in 1814, allowing players to change keys; his instrument became the first modern French horn.The instrument became the first modern French horn..

Great Danes have no connection to Denmark. In the 16th century, they were dubbed "English Dogges."They were dubbed "English Dogges."German princes favored massive English Dogges as pets in the 17th century. These pups earned the name "Danish Doggen" at a Hamburg dog show in 1863; the reason for the name remains unclear, but the label stuck.

French fries reportedly hail from Belgium, not France. Some claim street vendors first sold fried potatoes on the Ponte Neuf in Paris before the French Revolution. Belgians claim French fries come from Namur. They fried fish; when rivers froze, they cut potatoes like fish and fried them instead.French fries hail from Belgium.French fries come from Belgium, not France. A debate continues about their origin. Some say street vendors started selling fried potatoes on the Ponte Neuf (a Paris bridge) before the French Revolution. Belgians claim French fries originate in Namur. They fried fish; when rivers froze, cutting off supplies, they cut potatoes like fish and fried those instead.

The Danish pastry is not from Denmark. Danes call the pastries "Viennese." Danish bakers spreading worldwide likely gave the treats this name.Danes call the pastries "Viennese."The pastries called "Viennese" likely became known as Danishes after Danish bakers started traveling globally.

The baked good came from a French baker's mistake. Claudius Gelee did not add butter to his flour. To cover the error, he folded butter lumps into the dough. The light, flaky pastry sold well. Gelee opened a cafe in Paris, then one in Florence.

Chinese Checkers, a star-shaped game, have German and American origins. It stems from a game called Halma, created by a Harvard professor in 1883. A German company, Ravensburg, patented and sold it as Stern-Halma (stern means "star" in German) in 1892. Another company brought it to the United States in 1928, rebranding it as Chinese Checkers due to interest in the Far East.Chinese Checkers have German and American origins.The game is based on Halma, a game created by a Harvard University professor in 1883. In 1892, a German game company, Ravensburg, patented and sold the game as Stern-Halma (stern means "star" in German). Another company brought it to the United States in 1928; they rebranded it Chinese Checkers, perhaps due to increased interest in the Far East.

Russians may have perfected vodka, but the alcohol is Polish.The alcohol is actually Polish. Poland invented vodka around the 11th century, and it entered the Russian drink scene around the 18th century. Russia took the part of Poland that made much vodka after the country was split.Polish vodka was invented in Poland around the 11th century. It entered the Russian alcoholic scene around the 18th century. Poland was partitioned then, and Russia took the part of the country producing much vodka. Vodka gained popularity partly for its medicinal use; in the 1500s, an apothecary wrote about how vodka supposedlyVodka's popularity was partly medicinal; in the 1500s, an apothecary wrote about how vodka supposedly enhanced fertility.Vodka supposedly enhanced fertility.

This cute rodent comes from South America, not from the African nations of Equatorial Guinea or Guinea Bissau. So, where did guinea pigs get their name?The critters sound like piglets, according to some. They first crossed the Atlantic in the late 16th century and might have been sold in England as pets for the low price of one guinea.Some say these animals, like piglets, first crossed the Atlantic in the late 16th century. England might have sold them as pets for the low price of one guinea.Conversely"Guinea" might be a mispronunciation or misspelling of the South American nation of Guyana.

German chocolate cake became a twist.They named it after a man with a German last name, not the country. In the mid-19th century, English baker Sam German made this up.Sam German created a bar of baking chocolate called "Baker’s German’s Sweet Chocolate." People dropped the apostrophe and the 's' later. A century later, a Texas newspaper published a recipe for a new chocolate cake.A recipe for a new type of chocolate cake appeared in a Texas newspaper a century after the bar of chocolate was made.A bar of baking chocolate earned the name "Baker’s German’s Sweet Chocolate." People dropped the apostrophe and the possessive "s." A century later, a Texas newspaper published a recipe for a new chocolate cake. The popular dessert became known as German chocolate cake because of the chocolate used to bake it.

Fortune cookies appear to be a Japanese or Chinese-American idea, even though they usually go with Chinese food. Some people suggest this.Cantonese immigrant David Jung, who runs Los Angeles's Hong Kong Noodle Company, might have invented fortune cookies in the early 1900s. Others claim a Japanese immigrant named Makoto Hagiwara created them around the same time in California. The latter idea seems stronger; similar cookies stay at shrines in Japan.Cantonese immigrant David Jung, who built Los Angeles's Hong Kong Noodle Company, invented fortune cookies in the early 1900s. Other people claim a Japanese immigrant named Makoto Hagiwara created them around the same time in California. The latter explanation seems stronger because similarly-shaped cookies are popular in France and America during the 18th century.Similarly-shaped cookies remain at shrines in Japan.Makoto Hagiwara's creation theory seems more likely because cookies shaped like them are still found at shrines in Japan.

Venetian blinds are not actually Italian in origin. Middle Eastern inventors brought them to Europe. Venetian merchants then made them popular in France and America during the 18th century. The British developed tilting window slats around that time.Venetian blinds did not start in Italy.Middle Eastern inventors brought Venetian blinds to Europe. They then became popular in France and America in the 18th century. The British developed tilting window slats around the same time.These blinds became popular in France and America in the 18th century.The British developed tilting slats for windows around the same time the Venetian Blinds became popular in France and America during the 18th century.

This fluffy dog breed likely comes from Germany. The poodle's name probably...The poodle's name likely derives from "Pudelhund," meaning "water-splashing hound."The "French" title might come from King Louis XVI of France. He made the breed popular in the 18th century.

Proto-poodles once tracked waterfowl that hunters killed. Poodles' unusual haircuts meant owners shaved the hip fluff but left the ankle fur to stop rheumatism.Poodles had unusual haircuts.Owners shaved the hip fluff off poodles because it weighed them down in water. They left the ankle fur to prevent rheumatism.

Corned beef and cabbage, the unofficial official food of St. Patrick's Day, is not Irish. Corned beef first appeared in the Irish-American diet in New York City when immigrants first met Jewish cuisine. This dish was a good mix of cheap ingredients for newcomers to America.

Jordan almonds, candy-coated nuts, are not from Jordan. The name may come from the French word.The French word might be "jardine," meaning garden, or it could refer to an almond that grows along the Jordan River.The name might come from the word "jardine," or it could refer to an almond that grows along the Jordan River.The name might refer to an almond that grows along the Jordan River.Jordan almonds are sold along the Jordan River. Another idea is that "Jordan almonds" is a mistake for Verdun, a French town where an apothecary began using sugar to coat pills in the Middle Ages.

Regardless of the almond origin, there is a French link. Sugar- or honey-coated nuts have been a European treat since ancient times.Sugar- or honey-coated nuts have been a delicacy in Europe since ancient times.Sugar- or honey-coated nuts have been a delicacy in Europe from ancient times onward.

The Dutch Baby, a mega-fluffy, pancake-like treat, is German.The Dutch Baby is German.It is sort of German.It is an invention.Manca's Cafe in Seattle served Dutch Babies, likely based on a German pancake recipe. The chef's sister could not say "Deutsch," the German word for "German," so she named the pancakes "Dutch." These 20th-century innovations became a nationwide hit.

The Egyptian Mau's name issimilarThe Egyptian Mau's name is similar to the ancient Egyptian word for "cat," but these cats are not from Egypt. Genetic tests show the cats are more closely related to breeds like the Turkish Angora.catrather than modern Egyptiankitties.