It's Festivus for the rest of us! Who's ready for the airing of grievances and the pole? Festivus, an unconventional holiday celebrated on December 23, continues to gain attention each year as fans mark the occasion with humor, satire, and a break from traditional holiday expectations.
The holiday was popularized by a 1997 episode of "Seinfeld," where it was introduced as a deliberately anti-commercial alternative to Christmas. In the episode, Festivus featured a plain aluminum pole instead of a tree and traditions that included the “airing of grievances” and “feats of strength.”
Festivus originated years earlier as a private family tradition created by writer Dan O’Keefe’s father, who invented it as a humorous way to mark the season without what he saw as unnecessary pressure or excess. O’Keefe later incorporated the concept into Seinfeld, turning the obscure family joke into a lasting piece of pop culture.
Since then, Festivus has taken on a life of its own, with people across the country celebrating it in homes, offices, and even bars. While many observe it lightheartedly, the holiday has also become a broader symbol of frustration with consumerism and the stress that can accompany the end-of-year calendar.
More than two decades after its television debut, Festivus remains a cultural footnote that resurfaces every December, offering a reminder that not all holiday traditions take themselves seriously.
If you're ready to celebrate, you don't need to baste a turkey and buy a load of presents. But you do need this:
The Aluminum Pole: Instead of a decorated tree, display a plain aluminum pole, chosen for its "high strength-to-weight ratio and lack of distracting tinsel," per Frank Costanza.
The Airing of Grievances: After the meal of your choosing, each person takes turns airing their complaints about the way friends and family have disappointed them in the past year..
The Feats of Strength: The celebration concludes with the head of the household wrestling someone until they are pinned, symbolizing the end of the holiday.