Christmas parade an annual rite in Atlanta

Parade watching is getting to be a major annual outing in Atlanta. Here’s how it works.

You note in early December the date and time of the Christmas parade. Then choose warm clothing, mufflers and such. Red — it’s pretty important here to wear red. Santa Claus likes it, don’t you see.

Next, determine who you’ll take or go with. Parades are no fun alone. Usually choose someone who’ll act as silly as you will. A wide variety in ages is especially good. Now you can decide how many chairs or other sitting apparatuses you’ll need.

Next, put on a smile and don’t take it off. Practice your greeting. Every soul you meet will be tickled to talk. “It’s the merriest time of year,” the song says.

Go early and find your spot. In Atlanta don’t worry about blocking someone’s view or being blocked. Small-towners are very polite and social distance automatically.

Don’t plan to get the candy that’s thrown. The kids will either beat you to it or be disappointed you beat them.

Do call out and talk to the participants as they pass by on the floats, in the cars, straddling the bike or horse, and especially those who are walking. They’re parading, you see.

Try to read, look and listen carefully so as to understand the floats that pass by. People spend a long time making them and sometimes out of strange stuff. So it’s fun to appreciate.

These are the basics. You’ve got them down. You’ve come to a parade to see people go by, and they want to be seen. At the beginning you’ll be amazed, at the end you’ll be renewed.

“Hey, let’s do this again. Let that parade circle around and come by one more time. I have a comment to make about each and every one. I want to tell them, ‘ Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,’ and I do mean it … really.”

Well over a thousand people turned out for Atlanta’s Christmas parade. Here are a few pictures. Everyone said “Merry Christmas” to the photographer.

■ The Cortes family, above, is dressed so colorfully they seem ready to join in Atlanta’s parade Saturday night. From left, they are, Carlos, Arianna and Claudia Cortes.

■ Young Henry Coats, in the middle with Alexia Michelle Gibbs and Gracelyn Parks, wants Santa and the reindeer to recognize him and the others, too, with their lighted antlers.

■ ABOVE: Addisyn Reeves, left, Molly Pruitt and MaKenzy Reeves have found a cozy way to wait for a parade. They have blankets and friends around them.

■ Caitlyn Trim has just the right vehicle for her sons Cameron, left, and Cooper to ride in the Christmas parade.

■ Having arrived early and found a good spot to watch a parade are, from left, Jesse Karr, Kelli Karr, Jessica Karr and Sage Spinks.

■ Diana Maxwell is well prepared for Atlanta’s Christmas parade. She’s comfy with warm ear muffs and a cool cellphone.

■ Warm and ready for a parade are Janiece Owen, Tina Blaydes, Jessica Phelps and Mark Phelps, right.