# Who invented that stupid parade wave and why? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 10, 2010, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-that-stupid-parade-wave-and-why/538865 "2010-05-10T02:09:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-that-stupid-parade-wave-and-why/538865/21 "2010-05-11T20:24:13Z")
> [@CanvasShoes](#): > > [super perky homecoming queen voice]Elbow Elbow wrist, wrist WRIST! [/SPHQV] No, no, it’s, “Elbow elbow, wrist wrist, elbow elbow, wrist wrist, wipe a tear, blow a kiss.” ---
**Author:** ![jebert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ec9cab/32.png) [@jebert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jebert)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-that-stupid-parade-wave-and-why/538865/22 "2010-05-12T01:17:06Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > All hand waves are unnatural movements that are taught. The only difference is that you’re acclimated to regular waves of greeting. > > Otherwise, there’s no particular reason _not_ to do the parade wave. You’re doing something to make it known that you recognize and are greeting all of the people who are viewing you. That’s what the people want, and that’s the current way of accomplishing it. No other alternative would be any more or less artificial. I beg to differ. The wave I described is artificial. If one wants to recognize and greet people, one should look them in the eye and wave directly toward them. That’s how to make a connection. The other thoughts upthread about being less tiring are unconvincing. These queens are just sitting there, barely moving their wrists. Try telling how tiring that is to the guy beating the bass drum. He carrying that thing from his shoulders and WALKING the length of the parade. And even if it is a bit less fatiguing, it still looks … stupid. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-that-stupid-parade-wave-and-why/538865/23 "2010-05-12T02:28:50Z")
I would think it was pretty obvious. A “real” wave is specific, aimed at a particular person. The royal way is general; aimed at the whole crowd. Thus it’s largely pointed upward, rather than forward, so as not to single out any particular degree on the circle. ---
**Author:** ![moejoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@moejoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moejoe)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-that-stupid-parade-wave-and-why/538865/24 "2010-05-12T02:48:36Z")
> [@jebert](#): > > I went to a community parade today and was reminded again of that stupid way they teach the parade participants, particularly the queen candidates, to wave to the crowd. This is the one where they cup their hand, hold their forearm vertically and then rotate it slowly from the elbow. It reminds me of a scanning radar antenna. > > It looks completely unnatural. No one would wave to someone like this unless she were taught to do so. What is the reason for doing it this way? below the crown, above the pearls. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-that-stupid-parade-wave-and-why/538865/25 "2010-05-12T03:19:15Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > I was thinking you were going to say Sousa, but I knew it wasn’t true because I’ve read three or four biographies of Sousa, including his autobiography. Mencken, huh? 1. Just to be clear, H.L. Mencken is just the first name that came to mind (besides, well, you know). 2. Hot damn, I guess you like yourself some marching music. I didn’t even know there existed that many books on Sousa. ---
**Author:** ![Obeseus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbce88/32.png) [@Obeseus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Obeseus)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-that-stupid-parade-wave-and-why/538865/26 "2010-05-12T03:24:16Z")
While on the Tonight Show, Jimmy Stewart spoke of an upcoming parade. He told Johnny Carson there were two styles of waves, and he hadn’t decided between ‘the windshield wiper’ or the ‘doorknob turner.’ ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-that-stupid-parade-wave-and-why/538865/27 "2010-05-12T15:11:44Z")
> [@jebert](#): > > I beg to differ. The wave I described is artificial. If one wants to recognize and greet people, one should look them in the eye and wave directly toward them. That’s how to make a connection. That is how you have been taught to make a connection. All of this body language is something constructed by the culture you’re a part of. None of it is genetically hard-coded. All of it is arbitrary and artificial. The only distinction is between “made-up gesture I’m familiar with” and “made-up gesture that differs from what I’m familiar with.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-that-stupid-parade-wave-and-why/538865.md?page=1)