Super Bowl Sunday
Super Bowl Sunday, sometimes referred to as Super Sunday,[1] is the Sunday on which the Super Bowl is played. On Super Bowl Sunday, several people gather to watch the Super Bowl. Some such gatherings are known for the large amount of food that is consumed by attendees.
[edit] Festivities
As the most watched annual television program in the United States, a significant portion of the country follows the same routine on Super Bowl Sunday. Although it has never been made an official holiday, several commentators refer to it as a holiday due to the way it causes families and friends to gather and celebrate together.[2] Many Americans who are not typically football fans will still gather and watch the game.[3] There are several references[1] and resources available to those who host Super Bowl Parties.
Stores are often empty during the game, particularly in the regions represented by the two teams playing in the Super Bowl.[4] Water usage drops, with significant rises in use during halftime and after the game as fans go to the bathroom.[5] Although sports bars have been busy on Super Bowl Sunday in the past, it is becoming more common for people to view the game from home. This is due in part to the increasing size of home televisions in the United States as well as the attempts of budget conscious consumers to save money.[6] Expatriate Americans often hold gatherings abroad, although due to the time difference the events occur overnight in some areas.[7]
Some commentators have applauded the idea of making Super Bowl Sunday a national holiday, citing its ability to unite Americans of different races, religions, and economic classes.[8] It has even been characterized as a "holy day" for secular Americans.[9] In recent years, NFL executives have called for a three day weekend in order to allow fans to celebrate the event.[10] Some NFL fans find Super Bowl Sunday depressing, however, if their favorite team was eliminated from the NFL Playoffs.[11]
Churches sometimes cancel their afternoon or evening services for Super Bowl Sunday. Others hold football-themed charity drives or deliver sermons designed to appeal to male members of the congregation.[12][13] Some churches host Super Bowl viewing parties, and evangelize during halftime.[14]
[edit] Food
Large amounts of food are typically consumed on Super Bowl Sunday.[2][10] Super Bowl Sunday is the second–largest day of food consumption in the United States after Thanksgiving.[15] Large amounts of alcohol are consumed during the Super Bowl as well, and some police departments have noticed a dramatic increase in drunk driving on Super Bowl Sunday.[16]
Rather than a sit–down dinner, on Super Bowl Sunday food is usually served buffet style. Foods that are traditionally eaten on Super Bowl Sunday include buffalo wings, pizza, chili, potato chips, and dipping sauces.[15][17] Many pizza delivery businesses see their amount of orders double because pizza comprises roughly sixty percent of the take out ordered on Super Bowl Sunday. Roughly 28,000,000 pounds (13,000,000 kg) of chips which if laid end to end would strech for 293,000 miles, 1 billion chicken wings, and 8,000,000 pounds (3,600,000 kg) of guacamole are consumed during the Super Bowl,if all the guacamole consumed was to be spread over a football field the spread would be 11.8 feet deep, all this food is washed down by 325.5 million gallons of beer which is enough to fill 493 olympic swimming pools.[18][17]
[edit] References
- ^ Binkley, Colin (7 February 2011). "It isn't Super Sunday without having a party". The Columbus Dispatch. http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2011/02/07/it-isnt-super-sunday-without-having-a-party.html. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
- ^ a b Deford, Frank (28 January 2009). "Super Bowl Sunday is a holiday". CNN. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/frank_deford/01/28/SuperBowl/. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
- ^ Stellino, Vito (6 February 2010). "Super Bowl Sunday feels like a holiday". The Florida Times Union. http://jacksonville.com/sports/football/jaguars/2010-02-06/story/super_bowl_sunday_feels_like_a_holiday. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
- ^ Bollier, Jeff (6 February 2011). "Oshkosh shuts down for Packers, Super Bowl". The Northwestern (Oshkosh, Wisconsin). http://www.thenorthwestern.com/article/20110206/OSH0101/102060328/Oshkosh-shuts-down-for-Super-Bowl. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
- ^ Calder, Rich (2012-02-09). "Toilet Bowl XLVI / Flushes tell of Giant triumph". New York Post. http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/toilet_bowl_xlvi_JTsC6v0YXW7vtlMeI3KF3O?CMP=OTC-rss&FEEDNAME=. Retrieved February 09, 2012.
- ^ Jargon, Julie (3 February 2011). "Sports Bars Play Super Bowl Defense". The Wall Street Journal. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704680604576110050697188540.html. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
- ^ Halls, Sarah (5 February 2011). "Where to Watch the Super Bowl in Europe". The Wall Street Journal. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704709304576124013128512114.html. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
- ^ Cook, Bob (4 February 2007). "Let's Make Super Bowl an Official Holiday". NBC Sports. http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/16865062/ns/sports-super_bowl_xliv/. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
- ^ Edelstein, Jeff (5 February 2011). "SUPER BOWL SUNDAY: NFL will get sacked in ’11". The Trentonian. http://www.trentonian.com/articles/2011/02/05/opinion/doc4d4e1aa044186725954642.txt. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
- ^ a b Flint, Joe (4 February 2011). "NFL has made Super Bowl Sunday into a holiday, is a three-day weekend the next step?". Los Angeles Times. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2011/02/nfl-has-made-super-bowl-sunday-into-a-holiday-is-a-three-day-weekend-the-next-step.html. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
- ^ "Super Bowl tough for Saints fans". The Daily Advertiser (Lafayette, Louisiana). 6 February 2011. http://www.theadvertiser.com/article/20110206/SPORTS/102060359/1006. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
- ^ "Some churches cancel Super Bowl Sunday services". The Victoria Advocate. Associated Press (Victoria, Texas). 3 February 2011. http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2011/feb/03/bc-wi-super-bowl-sunday-services/?sports&nfl. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
- ^ Draper, Electa (5 February 2011). "Some preachers use Super Bowl to put focus on harm of pornography". Dever Post. http://www.denverpost.com/ci_17299496. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
- ^ Kloosterman, Stephen (6 February 2011). "Churches see Super Bowl as a time to connect with worshippers". Holland Sentinel (Holland, Michigan). http://www.hollandsentinel.com/newsnow/x549731920/Churches-see-Super-Bowl-as-a-time-to-connect-with-worshippers. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
- ^ a b Corwin, Tom (5 February 2011). "Super Bowl party food need not send diets crashing". The Augusta Chronicle (Augusta, Georgia). http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/metro/2011-02-05/super-bowl-party-food-need-not-send-diets-crashing. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
- ^ Zellermayer, J (6 February 2011). "Super Bowl Sunday drunk driving crackdown". WGN. Associated Press. http://www.wgntv.com/wgntv-drunk-driving-crackdown-super-feb6,0,3426624.story. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
- ^ a b Lynott, Jerry (1 February 2011). "Score super snacks". The Times Leader (Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania). http://www.timesleader.com/news/Score_super_snacks_01-31-2011.html. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
- ^ Edge, Lisa (4 February 2011). "Super Bowl Sunday means big business for food industry". WPDE. http://www.carolinalive.com/news/story.aspx?id=577049. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
