Staff Writer
It’s that time of year again — when ordinary people (not from Wisconsin) wear cheese on their heads, Trojan armor, cowboy hats and wings — to celebrate football’s greatest achievement: the Super Bowl. Super Bowl Sunday is the day that fans will tune in for the game, the glamour, the commercials or even the halftime show. This year, the New England Patriots defeated the Atlanta Falcons for bragging rights — and with Lady Gaga’s impressive performance at halftime, the game lived up to the hype.
Since the merger between the National Football and the American Football Leagues in 1966, the annual matchup between the AFC and the NFC champions has acquired immense popularity, and is now widely seen as the most watched professional sporting event in the United States.
The game is much more than a competition to win the sport’s ultimate prize, the Vince Lombardi Trophy. This unofficial holiday is one that brings people from all walks of life together. Friends and families share food and spirits to witness this grand spectacle of professional football. The game, which usually takes place on the last Sunday in January or the first Sunday in February, is now embedded in American pop culture.
My first experience with this ritual was both fun and memorable. Being raised as a passionate sports fan, I have watched every Super Bowl matchup since 2007. That was the year of Super Bowl XLI with the Indianapolis Colts and the Chicago Bears.
Living in Evansville, Indiana, this game acquired a special following from me, my family, friends and neighbors — I was 10 years old and an avid Colts fan.
In anticipation of the big game, my family decided to host a Super Bowl party. They went out of their way to make it a memorable experience for our guests, providing an array of Super Bowl apparel and merchandising including decorations, plates, napkins, team jerseys, hats and last, but definitely not least, delicious food.
The food itself took days to prepare. The appetizers consisted of popcorn and chips and dip. My father cooked chili with fancy pasta. My mother ordered football-shaped cookies with the logos of each team.
