Festivus: A Holiday for the Rest of Us
Skylar Taraborelli
Issue date: 12/9/09 Section: News
Invite your friends over and gather around the aluminum Festivus pole for a celebration that includes the airing of grievances and the feats of strength. Mark your calendars for December 23 for the celebration of Festivus. Summed up by its slogan, it's "for the rest of us". Made popular by the 90s sitcom "Seinfeld" in the episode, "The Strike". Festivus is celebrated all over the world by a variety of people from different backgrounds.
According to Festivus tradition, the holiday is not over until the head of household is pinned to the floor. Manipulated to fit the real-world, followers have invented other ways to prove their strength. Thumb-wrestling and hula-hoop endurance contests are used to test ones power.
The Feats of Strength were inspired by the Frank Costanza character, who told Kramer that the holiday came to be when he found himself in a department store tug of war over a doll with another shopper during Christmas.
"Many Christmases ago, I went to buy a doll for my son. I reached for the last one they had, but so did another man. As I rained blows upon him, I realized there had to be another way," said Costanza.
The Airing of Grievances is a popular Festivus tradition. Friends, family, and others gather together and take turns telling each other what a disappointment each person has been in their lives. The best part of this tradition is there is no hugging afterwards, or apologies for being honest.
The Festivus dinner occurs prior to the Feats of Strength. The official meal is meatloaf in a red sauce. It is also strongly encouraged that celebrators drink beer, bourbon, rum, or wine along with their dinner.
Festivus is mainly for those who are against consumerism and the "false joy" felt at this time of year, one of the biggest complaints about Christmas. Festivus requires no presents, no symbols, and there is no tinsel allowed.
It is a celebration of not celebrating. The symbol of an aluminum pole was chosen because of its simplicity and its opposition to commercialism of the highly decorated Christmas tree.
Festivus has become so popular that there have been movies that have mentioned the holiday, it has inspired books, and parties around the world are hosted in honor of the Seinfeld holiday.
Festivus has become more popular because of a New York Times article written by Allen Salkin, titled "Fooey to the World: Festivus Is Come". Salkin has also written a book about the holiday titled "Festivus: The HOLIDAY for the Rest of Us".
In his book he explains the traditions from all over the world, the many ways to carry out the traditions, and the history of the holiday. There is a foreword by Jerry Stiller, whose character on Seinfeld made the holiday known to the rest of the world.
For more information about Festivus, and for a place to air your grievances, visit www.festivusbook.com and www.festivusweb.com.
According to Festivus tradition, the holiday is not over until the head of household is pinned to the floor. Manipulated to fit the real-world, followers have invented other ways to prove their strength. Thumb-wrestling and hula-hoop endurance contests are used to test ones power.
The Feats of Strength were inspired by the Frank Costanza character, who told Kramer that the holiday came to be when he found himself in a department store tug of war over a doll with another shopper during Christmas.
"Many Christmases ago, I went to buy a doll for my son. I reached for the last one they had, but so did another man. As I rained blows upon him, I realized there had to be another way," said Costanza.
The Airing of Grievances is a popular Festivus tradition. Friends, family, and others gather together and take turns telling each other what a disappointment each person has been in their lives. The best part of this tradition is there is no hugging afterwards, or apologies for being honest.
The Festivus dinner occurs prior to the Feats of Strength. The official meal is meatloaf in a red sauce. It is also strongly encouraged that celebrators drink beer, bourbon, rum, or wine along with their dinner.
Festivus is mainly for those who are against consumerism and the "false joy" felt at this time of year, one of the biggest complaints about Christmas. Festivus requires no presents, no symbols, and there is no tinsel allowed.
It is a celebration of not celebrating. The symbol of an aluminum pole was chosen because of its simplicity and its opposition to commercialism of the highly decorated Christmas tree.
Festivus has become so popular that there have been movies that have mentioned the holiday, it has inspired books, and parties around the world are hosted in honor of the Seinfeld holiday.
Festivus has become more popular because of a New York Times article written by Allen Salkin, titled "Fooey to the World: Festivus Is Come". Salkin has also written a book about the holiday titled "Festivus: The HOLIDAY for the Rest of Us".
In his book he explains the traditions from all over the world, the many ways to carry out the traditions, and the history of the holiday. There is a foreword by Jerry Stiller, whose character on Seinfeld made the holiday known to the rest of the world.
For more information about Festivus, and for a place to air your grievances, visit www.festivusbook.com and www.festivusweb.com.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
Nino
posted 12/09/09 @ 9:25 AM EST
And you can even get your own Festivus Pole at www.festivuspoles.com
research paper
posted 12/15/09 @ 9:26 AM EST
I think all the Festivus traditions are good.
Dissertation
posted 2/09/10 @ 7:35 AM EST
Thanks for greatest news!
reklama
posted 4/12/10 @ 10:07 AM EST
Excuse, I have removed this question
Fuel saving devices
posted 4/14/10 @ 4:13 AM EST
The official meal is meatloaf in a red sauce. It is also strongly encouraged that celebrators drink beer, bourbon, rum, or wine along with their dinner. (Continued…)
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