Family Of Football Fans Reconfigure Christmas Lights For Super Bowl

While I was walking my dogs the other day, I noticed that a couple of houses in my neighborhood still have their Christmas lights and decorations up. I get it. Taking all of that stuff down just a few weeks after you put it up is a bit of a hassle. The older I get, the more I can understand why someone might want to leave their Christmas lights on their roof until the weather warms up. Or maybe, like one family in Missouri, those folks in my neighborhood feel that the holiday season doesn't truly end until the Super Bowl. If the Carolina Panthers were playing in the big game, we'd all feel that way around here.

According to KMBC-TV, the Meythaler family have reconfigured their red Christmas lights in celebration of the Kansas City Chiefs' postseason success. They've created an extravagant Chiefs-themed light show at their Gladstone, Missouri, home. The Meythalers have actually been doing this since 2020 because, with Andy Reid at the helm and Patrick Mahomes under center, the Chiefs have become perennial Super Bowl contenders.

The light show features 15,000 LED lights synced to four songs (not Taylor Swift) that are often heard at Kansas City Chiefs games and tailgate parties. Jeremy Meythaler says that setting it all up is a major investment in time. It takes him about about a month-and-a-half to get everything installed and synchronized. And, yes, the neighbors are cool with it.

Over the years, the display has become a local attraction, drawing visitors to the Meythaler's street and fostering community spirit during the Chiefs' Super Bowl run. The light show will be operating nightly through Sunday, February 11th. If Kansas City beats San Francisco, the lights could stay on a bit longer. At least until the victory parade, right?

Football fans are gearing up for the upcoming NFL season. Some fans are so passionate that their enthusiasm borders on religious fervor. And yes, they pray for their team.  Beyond their prayers, they also have some superstitions. You know the types: they go barechested in zero degree weather and paint themselves in their favorite team's colors. Their mood for the week depends on if their team won or lost. There are fans and then there devout believers.  Those are the ones who get a bit too superstitious.

You know that person who stays in the same spot throughout an entire game, and when their team gives up possession they change positions? That's who we're talking about. So, when things are going well, they're practically immobile. They won't step away for food or even use the bathroom. Why? Because they can’t risk "messing up the flow." On the other hand, if things are not going as planned, they might wander around the living room persistently in search of a lucky seat where good things could potentially happen. Of course, for some fans, their ritualistic and superstitious behaviors might just be traditions, regardless of whether their team comes out on top or experiences a loss.

From wearing a specific jersey to eating a particular snack, these rituals are believed to bring luck and influence the game. For instance, some fans might have a lucky pre-game routine, like wearing mismatched socks or doing a little victory dance before kickoff. Even food choices play a role, with some fans only eating certain foods while watching the game, like nachos or chicken wings, believing that deviating from this menu might lead to bad luck. It's these quirky and often amusing superstitions that add an extra layer of excitement to the football fan experience.

Take a look at a few of these superstition-filled traditions that football fans have been sharing on Reddit.

For some fans, the belief in "jersey power" is real, relying on their chosen jersey to bring their team to victory. A Reddit user revealed, "I change jerseys every game. Never wear the same one twice in a row." They mentioned that during one season, the Jaguars secured a 3-1 record when following this practice, but experienced a 0-12 record when they didn't.

Some fans unquestionably take their rituals to the extreme. During Vince Young's playing days, a Redditor mentioned that they used to perform a rather unconventional practice of burning a photo of the player. They would attach a picture of his face to a Barbie doll and place it on the grill as part of their ritual.

This particular approach might come across as a bit harsh, yet it seems to show results for this person. Apparently, ignoring their wife and kid during the game is their strategy. "I know it's weird and the results haven't been great, but I'm not going to risk it," they wrote. Priorities, dude!

Some say that dissecting your superstitions like a science can work wonders. A Reddit user shared their approach, saying that if, for some reason, they tune into the game late and the Ravens are in the lead, they turn the game off. "Watching will only swing the game in the opposite direction. It's like the Heisenberg Principle of quantum football mechanics. Intense observation will only change the outcome," they humorously explained. That's dedication!

Having a lucky seat or a designated sweet spot to park yourself during every football game is a ritual many fans swear by. According to one person, during game days, they make a point to occupy the exact same barstool. They mentioned, "Everyone has assigned seats at the bar."

Some hardcore football fans throw hygiene to the wind. A Reddit user opened up about their peculiar belief. If they don't shower right before the game, they're convinced the Eagles will end up on the losing side. They added, "Sometimes if we had a crappy first half, I'll take another shower, for a fresh start."

Luck can take some interesting forms, like the practice of counting things a specific number of times. A person mentioned that on game days, they apply three strokes of deodorant per armpit in support of Russell Wilson. Some people are all about the idea that stuff tends to go down in threes.