The beginner's Bears Nation to-do list

Bears fans always are willing to accept newcomers on the bandwagon-as long as they're for real. Whether you're a transplant or just a recently converted fan of the Monsters of the Midway, at minimum you'll need to check off everything on this list to pass for a true believer.

Get the name right

Please, please, please, whatever you do, don't call the Bears' home stadium "Soldiers Field." Politicians and celebrities make this mistake occasionally, but that doesn't mean you have to.

Speak up

If you're at Soldier Field and the game goes to commercial, you'll hear this exchange:

PA announcer Jim Riebandt: "There's a timeout "

Fans: " where?! "

Riebandt: " on the field."

Riebandt has been the Bears' PA announcer since 1982. His signature phrase used to signal the Bears' band to start playing and has since evolved into a modified tradition. There, now you can impress your friends with that tidbit.

Watch the forecast

Bear Weather. Some say it's a myth, others will tell you opposing teams really do hate playing when it's so cold even beer freezes. What's indisputable is the winter hits you like Lance Briggs streaking over the middle, only more painfully. Wear layers. Put warmers in your gloves and shoes. Hug a stranger. Stay warm however you can, because you'd rather be feeling the intensity of the game than frostbite.

Mind your manners

Using gourmet cheeses as your tailgating main course is a no-no. Too Packers-like. Sure, you'll need cheese for burgers and such, but it should not be the centerpiece of your pregame spread under any circumstances. If you're a beginner, best to stick with sausages. Done and done.

Dress the part

Tough to go wrong here. Blue, orange, logo or no logo, jersey or no jersey-there are plenty of options. Just know that if you show up on game day in, say, a Gabe Carimi jersey, you'd better have a good reason. And "because it was on the clearance rack" will not suffice.

Know your history

The 1985 Super Bowl champions are the most beloved team in Chicago history. Before spending any time with Bears fans, brush up on the basics: Payton. McMahon. Singletary. Da Coach. The Fridge. "The Super Bowl Shuffle." 46-10. Make sure you arrive at any Bears-related gathering armed with enough facts to last you three hours. It shouldn't be hard.

Master small talk

If you get stuck in any Bears conversation, simply yell "DITKA!" in your best Chicago accent and you're good to go.

Chris Sosa is RedEye's sports editor. @redeyesportschi