How To Celebrate Festivus in 5 Easy Steps

Today is Wednesday December 23rd, and you know what that means? Festivus!

For those that may not know Festivus is a holiday that was made popular by the hit sitcom Seinfeld in 1997 after the idea was conceived by writer for the show Daniel O’Keefe. This holiday was created and is celebrated as an alternative to the commercialism and pressures of the Christmas holiday season. It’s “a festivus for the rest of us”.

1) Festivus Pole

A Festivus celebration includes the following 5:

At the center of the celebration is the Festivus pole – a bare aluminum pole without any decoration. In the Seinfeld episode “The Strike” where the characters of Seinfeld celebrate Festivus, Frank Costanza chose the aluminum pole in opposition to the commercialization of highly decorated Christmas trees, and also because he "finds tinsel distracting." He also praises the pole for its appealing high “strength to weight ratio”. You can make your own Festivus pole, or you can purchase one online from websites like this one: FestivusPoles.com.

2) Festivus Dinner

A celebratory dinner that does not have to be fancy or anything crazy special, as long as you’re all there! Although the food that was served in the Seinfeld episode “The Strike” is unknown, many believe it to be either meatloaf or spaghetti and meatballs. I guess as long as your meal features some sort of red meat, you’re good! Even then many people choose to serve other foods, some of their favorites that were featured in other Seinfeld episodes.

3) Airing of Grievances

“I got a lotta problems with you people, and you’re gonna hear about it”.

During the Festivus dinner each person has a chance to share how everyone else has disappointed them throughout the year, active immediately after dinner has been served! For shy persons you can also anonymously write your grievance and post it on the Festivus pole.

4) Feats of Strength

Following the Airing of Grievances and the Festivus dinner, Feats of strength is the final tradition in the Festivus celebration where the head of the household chooses another and challenges them to some sort of competition. In the episode “The Strike”, Frank first challenges George and then later Kramer to a wrestling match where the actual celebration does not end until the head of the house is wrestled to the floor and pinned. However many celebrate this tradition by swapping wrestling for other competitions such as arm wrestling, thumb wrestling, board games, video games, and other games such as darts or beer pong, staring contests, etc. Have fun with it!

5) Festivus Miracles

This may not be an official part of the holiday, however it is mentioned at least twice in “The Strike” episode so it is necessary to include. A parody of the “Christmas miracle”, Festivus miracles are when you take any ordinary and explainable event and force it to be the exact opposite. Making almost anything seem like a miracle, So use if often this time of year!