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Festivus is a holiday that was featured on an episode of Seinfeld, based somewhat on the real life holiday invented by Dan O'Keefe, the father of the episode's co-writer. The episode introduced the holiday to the public and today Festivus is being celebrated all over the world. If you want to celebrate Festivus this year, then this page will help guide you through the traditions.
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Festivus Tips
- Festivus is known as "a Festivus for the rest of us."
- The holiday was introduced to the world in an episode of Seinfeld.
- A Festivus Pole, made of aluminum, is the only decoration.
- Dinner begins with the Airing of Grievances.
- Festivus concludes with Feats of Strength.
- The holiday ends when the head of the household has been pinned.
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Managed Since: 09/17/2009
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Page revenue is subject to change as we obtain data from our partners
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Introduction
- In an episode of Seinfeld titled "The Strike" the world was introduced to a holiday known as Festivus. According to the episode, Festivus is celebrated on December 23 and was created by Frank Costanza, George Costanza's father.HowStuffWorks: Festivus Explained - The Origins of Festivus The episode aired on December 18, 1997, during Seinfeld's ninth season.TV.com: Seinfeld: The Strike
- However, if you believed that Festivus was created for that episode, you're terribly mistaken. Festivus is based on a holiday created by one of the episode's co-writers, Dan O'Keefe. Seinfeld simply launched the holiday into the mainstream. Why is this important? Because the episode took some creative license with the original holiday created in 1966 by O'Keefe's father.Google Book Search: The Real Festivus: The True Story According to O'Keefe, "Festivus was a celebration of my parents' first date" and "was very different from the TV holiday."WashingtonPost.com: Have Yourself a Merry Little Festivus (November 26, 2006) JS Online: Our Day, Our Way (October 24, 2005)
- However, since Festivus is a flexible holiday you are able to adapt the traditions to fit your own needs.JS Online: Our Day, Our Way (October 24, 2005) Some of the major traditions that will be covered in this guide include:
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Featured Video: Festivus Poles
This video is a news report about a company in Milwaukee that makes actual "festivus poles." The aluminum company decided to make "festivus" poles after being inspired by ''Seinfeld.'' It started out as "something fun to do," but the company later learned that people would really buy "festivus poles." The poles are just plain aluminum poles. -
The Festivus Pole
[T]here's a pole. Requires no decoration. I find tinsel distracting. ... It's made from aluminum. Very high strength-to-weight ratio. --Frank Costanzafestivusweb.com: Script of "The Strike" Episode
- The only decoration for Festivus is a metallic pole. The pole is not to be decorated, since it was chosen as a distinct protest against the commercialization of Christmas trees.festivusweb.com: The Festivus Pole
- Aluminum is the preferred pole type, because of its "high strength-to-weight ratio."msnbc.com: Festivus Poles Now are for the Rest of Us (December 21, 2006)
- Unlike Christmas trees, there are no stands made for Festivus poles. Instead, you can prop them up in a coffee can, pail of rocks or suspend them using fishing line.Festivus: The Festivus Pole
- While many people choose to display them in their home, Festivus poles are also a commonly used to protest displays of religious symbols, especially in Wisconsin.FOXNews.com: Festivus Pole Proposed After Wisconsin City Displays Nativity (December 17, 2007)
- Wisconsin is also where the only manufacturing plant for Festivus poles is located and is the only state that has a Festivus pole located in their museum.msnbc.com: Festivus Poles Now are for the Rest of Us (December 21, 2006) Wisconsin Historical Society: Governor Doyle's Festivus Pole The honored pole was displayed at the Governor's residence during the 2005 Christmas season.Wisconsin Historical Society: Governor Doyle's Festivus Pole
- If you're a traditionalist, then you will need to replace your Festivus pole with a clock in a bag. According to Daniel O'Keefe, the pole was created for the show and a clock in a bag was the original Festivus decoration, although he does not know why.Wisconsin Historical Society: Governor Doyle's Festivus Pole
- YouTube: A Festivus Pole for the Rest of Us! (Time: 2:18)
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Festivus Dinner and the Airing of Grievances
Welcome, newcomers. The tradition of Festivus begins with the airing of grievances. I got a lot of problems with you people, and now you're gonna hear about it! --Frank Costanzafestivusweb.com: Script of "The Strike" Episode
- At Thanksgiving, everyone tells something they are thankful for. At New Year's, you make a list of resolutions. At Festivus, there is the Airing of Grievances.
- The Airing of Grievances occurs before the Festivus dinner.festivusweb.com: Festivus Airing of Grievances
- During the event, everyone at the table has a chance to tell the others how they have disappointed them over the past year.festivusweb.com: Festivus Airing of Grievances
- Everyone should have a chance to speak before the dinner begins.HowStuffWorks: Festivus Explained - The Airing of Grievances
- Festivus dinner can be anything, as no specific foods are associated with the holiday.HowStuffWorks: Festivus Explained - The Airing of Grievances However, the dinner should consist of comfort foods.Madison.com: 'Seinfeld' Holiday Has a Highly Placed Fan (December 23, 2005)
- For those of you with quite a few grievances, you may want to make use of a list of grievances worksheet.Katharine Willis: Lists of Grievances Worksheet
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Feats of Strength
And now as Festivus rolls on, we come to the feats of strength. --Frank Costanzafestivusweb.com: Script of "The Strike" Episode
- The last event of Festivus is the Feats of Strength. According to the episode, "Festivus is not over until the head of the household is wrestled to the floor and pinned."festivusweb.com: Festivus Feats of Strength
- The head of the household chooses who will participate.festivusweb.com: Festivus Feats of Strength
- Anyone chosen has the opportunity to decline if they have other plans, unless they are related to head of the household.festivusweb.com: Festivus Feats of Strength
- Thumb wrestling and washer tossing are considered a suitable, and safer, Feats of Strength.Festivus: Feats of Strength
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Other Festivus Traditions
- As the Festivus holiday became more and more popular, it was inevitable that its traditions would expand into things such as carols, recipes and Miss Festivus pageants.LJWorld.com: A Festivus for the Rest of Us (December 18, 2005)
- Festivus Gifts: Gifts for Festivus can be gag gifts or "donations" to The Human Fund.
- The typical Festivus gift consists of a card that reads, "A donation has been made in your name to the Human Fund."HowStuffWorks: Festivus Explained - Festivus Today
- The Human Fund was a charity, whose motto was "Money for people," made up by George.HowStuffWorks: Festivus Explained - Festivus Today When George's boss discovers that the charity is made up, George uses Festivus as his reasoning for his lies.
- There is a real Human Fund, which supports arts education programs for children in Cleveland. Since it was created in 2005, it is obvious that the organization borrowed the name from the Seinfeld episode.The Human Fund: Our Mission
- Gag gifts are also appropriate since they were part of the original Festivus celebrations.WashingtonPost.com: Have Yourself a Merry Little Festivus (November 26, 2006)
- Festivus Parties: Many people opt to have Festivus parties that include the Airing of Grievances and Feats of Strength.The New York Times: Fooey to the World: Festivus Is Come (December 19, 2004) Like the holiday, the parties should be centered around a minimalist approach.
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Conclusion
- Now that you've been introduced to Festivus, you will most likely want to find out more about the holiday. To do this, you will want to check out the only two books written about the holiday as well as the "The Strike" episode of Seinfeld (Season 9, Episode 10).
- Here are some sources for these items:
- The Real Festivus by Daniel O'Keefe: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Google Product Search
- Festivus: The Holiday for the Rest of Us by Allen Salkin: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Google Product Search
- Seinfeld Ninth Season DVDs: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Google Product Search
