EDMONTON - Sports has the wonderful ability of bringing people together, like this Sunday when thousands of Canadians host Grey Cup parties.

The Toronto Argonauts play host to the Calgary Stampeders in the 100th Grey Cup? Who would have imagined that would happened? For that reason alone, the game is worth watching. For many, it will be at a Grey Cup party.

The wonderful thing about Grey Cup parties is you may not know the difference from a quarterback or a six-pack, but you can join in the yelling and screaming when a team does … something. It could be a touchdown, a field goal, or a great defensive stand when the rest of the room goes crazy.

Just follow everyone’s else’s lead. Football fan or not, you will fit in.

I speak from experience: My mother and father hosted Grey Cup parties for more than three decades. Dad loved the Canadian Football League and the Saskatchewan Roughriders even more. He enjoyed every play of the game and would often shake his head at a team’s strategy. Mom was a tremendous hostess and spent the entire day in the kitchen, rolling out snacks throughout the game.

When the third quarter started, Mom had the main meal in the oven so we could eat after the presentation of the Grey Cup. My mother would bring her latest knitting project to where we were watching the game.

“So, who’s playing again?” she would ask. “And what colour do they wear?”

The football game itself was secondary to Mom. It was a chance for her and my father, especially in later years when getting out for both of them was a challenge, to have people in. They hosted Grey Cup parties right up to 2005, the year before they sold their house.

Perhaps, then, that’s why we hold Grey Cup parties in such high regard. Oh, sure, it’s a showcase of the CFL with all the marbles on the line, which makes for great football.

But more importantly, it brings us together to share time with one another.

Over my adult years, I have met several people who travel to the city where the Grey Cup is being played with family or friends. For them, much like my late parents, the Grey Cup was a sturdy tradition with a strong foundation of friendship and fellowship. And we have to celebrate that.

So we will watch Argos quarterback Ricky Ray and Kevin Glenn of the Stampeders in what could be a chess game. We will yell, scream and second-guess plays. We will enjoy beverages and snacks.

Most of all, though, we will enjoy each other’s company. In Canada, in late November, that’s what we do.

camtait@telus.net

For all the latest news, commentary, photos and video about Grey Cup 2012, go to edmontonjournal.com/greycup.