Whether at a bar, in the comfort of your own home, with friends, or in the company of strangers, celebrating touchdowns during the biggest football game of the year, is a necessity. By incorporating at least some of these 10 rituals into your Superbowl watching, you’re bound to amp up your party atmosphere. These epic celebrations are appropriate for all fans, even those just watching for the commercials.
But don’t take theses mini hooplas lightly. Your alcohol tolerance will be tested. Your fan friendships will either grow stronger, or linger in despair. It all depends on how passionate you can get, and of course if your choice team, either the Seahawks or the Patriots, scores any touchdowns. The best philosophy to use in implementing the 10 celebration tactics, is to give them all you got, or don’t do them at all. They require group participation, so make sure to get a group of buddies together and collaboratively show your support for your team. Get cray and don’t hold back.
Top image courtesy of Roger Wong and INFphoto.com
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#10. The Classic High Five
High fives are a simple, yet effective way of showing excitement. It lets everyone in the group feel included when a bunch of high fives go around, creating trust and comradery. Several psychologists have researched this classic maneuver and have found that it releases oxytocin, which reduces stress and creates the sensation of loyalty, according to The New York Times.
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#9. A Round of Shots
This celebration technique is especially enticing in a bar setting. Maybe you weren’t able to meet up with friends for the big game, so you decided to hit up the coolest sports bar in town. What better way to get to know the strangers around you than to all take shots in dedication of your team and fellow fans. It also gets those involved who just came to watch the commercials, who by the end of the night may have a new favorite team, team alcohol.
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#8. The Chest Bump
Chest bumping can get tricky for female fans, but if you’re taking shots and chest bumping, the pain may not be quite so intense. Like the high five, physical touch is essential, which has the potential to create bromances. A few strategies exist on how to play this card. You could all take turns chest bumping one another, or pick a designated partner for the game. Either way, you may be sore the next day, but it’s all worth it. It’s the Superbowl for goodness sake.
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#7. Team Song
Having a team song involves group cooperation and compromise. Once an epic anthem has been chosen, you can either clip it and download it as a ringtone, queue it on a sound system, or all belt it out for your designated team and play it when touchdowns shake the stadium.
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#6. The Noise Meter
The noise meter is a contest to see how loud you can get until the police called, or until you get kicked out of the restaurant/bar where you’re watching the game. Your neighbors may hate you unless they’re fellow fans, but hey it’s just for one night, right? We’ve all gotta let loose every now and then. Yell. Stomp. Bang on the walls. Do it all in the spirit of football.
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#5. The Fist Pump
Valued by the guidos and guidettes of New Jersey comes the epic fist pump. It starts by moving your arm in a circular motion while sporting a fist. Then you get faster, and higher, and expand the circular movement. A lot of times people choose to shout obscure noises as they’re engaging in the fist pump. This touchdown celebration allows for originality in a friend group by adding charisma and personal touch.
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#4. Instant Replay
Instant replay is practiced by physically replaying the touchdown with your party. This one is geared towards a house party environment over the bar scene. It can get dangerous, but as long as you know your capabilities, it shouldn’t be too difficult to execute. This way you’re incorporating physical exercise into your couch potato festivity.
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#3. The Touchdown Dance
The infamous touchdown dance varies from player to player. When watching Superbowl 2015 you can either each make up your own touchdown dance, or you could model one after someone on your choice team. If you wanted to really get into it, you could always choreograph a dance beforehand. Bartenders would be greatly entertained if you decide to perform these moves in public.
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#2. Breakage
If you’re really into the spirit of the Superbowl and don’t care about your fine china, then breakage is your method for touchdown mania. Just take your plates, glasses, anything breakable you don’t want and throw them on the ground, preferably outside. It’s a celebration that let’s off steam, but it also creates a big mess. One piece of advice would be to buy dishes or glasses from Goodwill and then pay a neighbor’s kid to clean it all up. Not recommended for public.
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#1. The Anti-celebration
The anti-celebration involves options #2, #4, #5, and #9, but for when the opposing team scores a touchdown. Taking a round of shots, playing/singing your team song, activating the noise meter, and breakage can all be used to express dislike in the other teams advance.
No matter if you’re a Seattle Seahawks fan or in favor of the New England Patriots, celebrating touchdowns and getting involved in the televised event makes it more personal and exciting.