Festivus 303126 224736094 2008-07-10T05:07:50Z 70.73.53.70 /* Festivus Miracles */ {{Redirect|The Airing of Grievances|the [[Titus Andronicus (band)|Titus Andronicus]] album|The Airing of Grievances (album)}} {{Infobox Holiday | |holiday_name=Festivus |image=Festivus-Pole-from-Seinfeld.png|thumb|250px| |caption=[[Frank Costanza]] ([[Jerry Stiller]], left, next to [[Michael Richards]] as [[Cosmo Kramer]]) holds the old family "Festivus Pole" while talking to [[Jerry Seinfeld (character)|Jerry]] ([[Jerry Seinfeld]]). Frank's son [[George Costanza|George]] ([[Jason Alexander]]) has just fled [[Monk's Cafe|Monk's Café]] after Frank plays a tape of George's "Feats of Strength" torment from a childhood Festivus. |observedby= |date=[[December 23]] |celebrations=Airing of Grievances, Feats of Strength, the Festivus Pole |type=Seasonal |significance=A non-denominational holiday to be celebrated by those frustrated or jaded with the commercialism and pressure surrounding the Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa season |relatedto=[[Christmas]]}} '''Festivus''' is an annual holiday invented by writer Dan O'Keefe and introduced into popular culture by his son Daniel, a scriptwriter for the TV show ''[[Seinfeld]]''.<ref name="ljworld">{{cite web | title=Festivus for the rest of us | work=LJWorld | url=http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2005/dec/18/festivus_rest_us/?christmas_holidays= | accessdate = 2006-12-25}}</ref><ref name="nytimes">{{cite news |first=Allen |last=Salkin |title=Fooey to the World: Festivus Is Come |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/19/fashion/19FEST.html?pagewanted=all&position= |work= |publisher=''The New York Times'' |date=2004-12-19 |accessdate=2008-01-09 }}</ref> Although the original Festivus took place in February 1966 as a celebration of O'Keefe's first date with his wife, Deborah,<ref name="nytimes"/> most people now celebrate the holiday on [[December 23]], as depicted on the [[December 18]], [[1997]] ''Seinfeld'' episode "[[The Strike (Seinfeld episode)|The Strike]]".<ref name="ljworld"/><ref>{{cite episode | title = The Strike | episodelink = The Strike (Seinfeld episode) | series = Seinfeld | serieslink = Seinfeld | airdate = 1997-12-18 | season = 9 | number = 10 }}</ref> According to O'Keefe, the name Festivus "just popped into his head."<ref name="nytimes"/> The holiday includes novel practices such as the "Airing of Grievances", in which each person tells everyone else all the ways they have disappointed him or her over the past year. Also, after the Festivus meal, the "Feats of Strength" are performed, involving wrestling the head of the household to the floor, the holiday only ending if the head of the household is actually pinned. These conventions originated with the TV episode. The original holiday featured far more peculiar practices, as detailed in the younger Daniel O'Keefe's book ''The Real Festivus'', which provides a first-person account of an early version of the Festivus holiday as celebrated by the O'Keefe family, and how O'Keefe amended or replaced details of his father's invention to create the Seinfeld episode.<ref name="Rome">{{cite web | title= Origins of Festivus | work=Festivus: The Holiday for the Rest of Us | url=http://www.festivusbook.com/historyoffestivus | accessdate = 2007-11-02}}</ref> Some people, influenced or inspired by ''Seinfeld'',<ref name="nytimes"/> now celebrate the holiday in varying degrees of seriousness; some carefully follow rules from the TV show or books, while others humorously invent their own versions. ==Festivus rituals== Festivus is introduced in "[[The Strike (Seinfeld episode)|The Strike]]", which revolves around [[Cosmo Kramer]] returning to work at [[H&H Bagels]]. He does so after learning that a 12-year strike in which he participated has ended (because the minimum wage has risen to the level of the wages demanded by the workers twelve years earlier). <!--- removing image because its deletion is imminent [[Image:Festivus.gif|right|thumb|The generally accepted logo for the holiday, found on multiple websites about the holiday]] ---> Kramer becomes interested in resurrecting the holiday when at the bagel shop, [[Frank Costanza]] tells him how he created Festivus as an alternative holiday in response to the commercialization of [[Christmas]]. :'''Frank Costanza:''' ''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.'' :'''Cosmo Kramer:''' ''What happened to the doll?'' :'''Frank Costanza:''' ''It was destroyed. But out of that a new holiday was born: a Festivus for the rest of us!''<ref name="script">{{cite web | title=The Strike | work=Seinfeld Scripts | url=http://www.seinfeldscripts.com/TheStrike.htm | accessdate = 2006-12-25}}</ref> Frank Costanza's son, [[George Costanza|George]] ([[Jason Alexander]]), creates donation cards for a fake charity called [[The Human Fund]] (with the slogan "Money for People") in lieu of having to give office Christmas presents. When his boss, [[List of Seinfeld minor characters#mrkruger|Mr. Kruger]] ([[Daniel von Bargen]]), questions George about a $20,000 check he gave George to donate to the Human Fund as a corporate donation, George hastily concocts the excuse that he made up the Human Fund because he feared persecution for his beliefs, for not celebrating Christmas. Attempting to call his bluff, Kruger goes home with George to see Festivus in action. Kramer eventually goes back on strike from his bagel-vendor job when his manager tells him he can not have time off for his new-found religious holiday. Kramer is then seen on the street with a sign reading "Festivus yes! Bagels no!", and chanting to anyone passing the store "Hey! No bagel, no bagel, no bagel..."<ref name="script" /> Finally at Frank's house in Queens, Jerry, Elaine, Kramer and George gather to celebrate Festivus. George brings Kruger to prove Festivus is real. ===The Festivus Pole=== In the episode, though not in the original O'Keefe Family celebration, the tradition of Festivus begins with an [[aluminum]] pole. During Festivus, the Festivus Pole is displayed unadorned. The pole was chosen apparently in opposition to the commercialization of highly decorated [[Christmas trees]], because it is "very low-maintenance", and also because the holiday's patron, Frank Costanza, finds [[tinsel]] "distracting". The basics of the Festivus pole are explained by Frank in two separate situations. :'''Cosmo Kramer:''' ''Is there a tree?'' :'''Frank Costanza:''' ''No, instead, there's a pole. It requires no decoration. I find tinsel distracting.'' :'''Frank Costanza:''' ''It's made from aluminum. Very high strength-to-weight ratio.'' :'''Mr. Kruger:''' ''I find your belief system fascinating.'' When not being used, the Festivus Pole is stored in a [[crawlspace]]. ===Festivus Dinner=== In "The Strike", a celebratory dinner is shown on the evening of Festivus prior to the Feats of Strength and during the Airing of Grievances. The on-air meal appeared to be meat loaf or spaghetti in a red sauce. The original holiday dinner in the O'Keefe household featured turkey or ham followed by a Pepperidge Farm cake decorated with M&M's, as described in detail in O'Keefe's ''The Real Festivus''. In ''Festivus: The Holiday for the Rest of Us'' by Allen Salkin, modern observances of Festivus tend to feature heavy drinking, including [[beer]], [[rum]], [[Bourbon whiskey|bourbon]], or [[wine]]. In the ''Seinfeld'' episode, no alcohol is served, but [[George Costanza]]'s boss, Mr. Kruger, drinks from a [[hip flask|flask]]. ===Airing of Grievances=== The celebration of Festivus begins with Airing of Grievances, which takes place immediately after the Festivus dinner has been served. It consists of lashing out at others and the world about how one has been disappointed in the past year. Every household has its own traditions; in one house, the Airing of Grievances consisted of writing the grievances on the fridge in marker.<ref>{{cite web | title=Airing of Grievances | work=Festivus Book | url=http://festivusbook.com/airingofgrievances | accessdate = 2006-12-25}}</ref> : '''Frank Costanza:''' ''And at the Festivus dinner, you gather your family around, and tell them all the ways they have disappointed you over the past year!'' : '''Frank Costanza:''' ''I got a lot of problems with you people! And now, you're gonna hear about it. You, Kuger[sic]. My son tells me your company STINKS!'' : '''George Costanza:''' ''Oh, God.'' ===Feats of Strength=== The Feats of Strength is the final tradition observed in the celebration of Festivus. Traditionally, the head of the household selects one person at the Festivus celebration and challenges that person to a wrestling match.<ref>{{cite web | title=Feats of Strength | work=Festivus Book | url=http://festivusbook.com/feats | accessdate = 2006-12-25}}</ref> The person may decline if they have something else to do, such as pull a double shift at work. Tradition states that Festivus is not over until the head of the household is pinned in a wrestling match. The Feats of Strength are mentioned twice in the episode before they actually take place. In both instances, no detail was given as to what had actually happened, but in both instances, [[George Costanza]] ran out of the [[coffee shop]] in a mad panic, implying he had bad experiences with the Feats of Strength in the past. : '''Jerry Seinfeld:''' ''And wasn't there a Feats of Strength that always ended up with you crying?'' : '''George Costanza:''' ''I can't take it anymore! I'm going to work! Are you happy now?!'' : '''Frank Costanza:''' ''I've brought one of the cassette tapes.'' : '''Frank Costanza (on a tape recorder):''' Read that poem. : '''George Costanza (on a tape recorder):''' I can't read it, I need my glasses. : '''Frank Costanza (on a tape recorder):''' You don't need glasses! You're just weak, weak! : '''Estelle Costanza (on a tape recorder):''' Leave him alone! : '''Frank Costanza (on a tape recorder):''' All right, George. It's time for the Festivus Feats of Strength! : '''George Costanza:''' '' No! No! Turn it off! No feats of strength! I hate Festivus!'' : '''Frank Costanza:''' ''We had some good times.'' ===Festivus Miracles=== Although it is not an official element of the holiday or its celebration, the phenomenon of the ''Festivus Miracle'' is mentioned twice in the original episode, both times occurring in the Costanza household, and both declared by Kramer. Miracle #1; : '''Betting Shop Guy:''' ''Hello again, Miss Benes.'' : '''Elaine Benes:''' ''What are you doing here?'' : '''Betting Shop Guy:''' ''Damndest thing. Me and Charlie were calling to ask you out, and, uh, we got this bagel place.'' : '''Cosmo Kramer:''' ''I told them I was just about to see you. It's a Festivus Miracle!'' Miracle #2; : '''Gwen:''' ''Jerry!'' : '''Jerry Seinfeld:''' ''Gwen! How did you know I was here?'' : '''Gwen:''' ''Kramer told me!'' : '''Cosmo Kramer:''' ''Another Festivus Miracle!!'' : '''Jerry Seinfeld:''' ''(murderous glare)'' From these examples, it can be inferred that Festivus miracles tend to be minor coincidences that are inconvenient for one of the involved parties (Elaine did not want to see the Betting Shop Guy, and two-faced Gwen mistakes Elaine as the "ugly girl" she has been hearing about). ==Etymology and origin== Festivus (with long "i", '''festīvus''') is a Latin word, but not the name of a festival: it means "festive"<ref>{{cite web | title=festivus| work=Lewis & Short Latin Dictionary | url=http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0059%3Aentry%3D%2318041 | accessdate=2007-12-27}}</ref>. The holiday was named by the elder O'Keefe. The English word '''festive''' derives from '''festīvus''', which in turn derives from '''festus''' "joyous; holiday, feast day".<ref>{{cite web | title=festus | work=Words | url=http://www.archives.nd.edu/cgi-bin/words.exe?festus | accessdate=2007-12-27}}</ref><ref name="jsonline">{{cite web | title=Our day, our way | work=Journal Sentinel Online | url=http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=365353 | accessdate = 2006-12-25}}</ref> In the O'Keefe tradition the holiday would take place in response to family tension, "any time from December to May".<ref name="salkin">{{cite book | title=Festivus: The Holiday for the Rest of us | year=2005 | id=ISBN 0-446-69674-9| last=Allen Salkin }}</ref> The phrase "a Festivus for the rest of us" also derived from an O'Keefe family event, the death of the elder O'Keefe's mother.<ref name="salkin" /> The elder O'Keefe wrote a book that deals with idiosyncratic ritual and its social significance, a theme with great relevance to Festivus tradition.<ref>{{cite book | title=Stolen Lightning: A Social Theory of Magic| year=1982| id=ISBN 0-8264-0059-0| last=O'Keefe}}</ref> ==Other references== * "Festivus: A Holiday for the Rest of Us" is the name of a book by [[Allen Salkin]] about the celebration of Festivus in the real world.<ref>{{cite web | title=Festivus Website | work=Allen Salkin | url=http://www.festivusbook.net }}</ref> * [[The Wagner Companies]] of [[Milwaukee]], [[Wisconsin]], began manufacturing Festivus Poles for the 2005 season.<ref name="msnnbc">{{cite web | title=Festivus poles now are for the rest of us | work=MSN NBC | url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16314291 | accessdate = 2006-12-25}}</ref> <!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:Ben jerry festivus.jpg|thumb|[[Ben and Jerry's]] Festivus flavor ice cream]] --> * "Festivus" was the name of a seasonal [[Ben and Jerry's]] [[ice cream]] flavor made in 2000 and 2001 in honor of the holiday. In 2004, the flavor made its return as "Gingerbread Cookie", and has since been retired to the Ben and Jerry's [[Flavor Graveyard]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Flavor Graveyard | work=Ben & Jerry | url=http://www.benjerry.com/our_products/flavor_graveyard | accessdate = 2006-12-25}}</ref> *"Festivus" is a term used by the [[Baltimore Ravens]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL) and their fans to denote the [[NFL Playoffs]]. During the [[2000 NFL Season|2000 season]], Ravens head coach [[Brian Billick]] banned his players from using the word "playoffs" during the season as he wanted his players to focus on every game and not look ahead. Players substituted the term "festivus" for playoffs and "festivus maximus" for the [[Super Bowl]]. The Ravens eventually went on to win the [[Super Bowl XXXV|Super Bowl]] that season.<ref>{{cite book | title=Tales from the Baltimore Ravens Sideline | year=2004 | id=ISBN 1-582-61754-6| author=Matte, Tom | coauthors=Jeff Seidel}}</ref> * Presumably unaware of the irony, the [[Brisbane, Australia]] marketing organization has adopted the name "Festivus" to refer to its summer holidays program of events. <ref>{{cite web | title=Media Release: Festivus Event Calendar (19 Nov 2003) | work=brisbanemarketing.com.au | url=http://www.brisbanemarketing.com.au/news-and-events/Media-Release.aspx?id=206 | accessdate = 2007-12-30}}</ref> * An [[Oklahoma]]-based winery, Grape Ranch, began producing Festivus wine in 2003. * A 2004 episode of [[Jeopardy!]] had a Seinfeld-themed round, featuring a category entitled Festivus, in which contestants answered questions about holidays. Incidentally, this was the final episode in which long-time champion [[Ken Jennings]] played, until returning for the Ultimate Tournament of Champions.<ref>{{cite web | title=Show #4657 | work=J! Archive | url=http://www.j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=62 | accessdate = 2006-12-25}}</ref> * "Oh Festivus" (also known as "The Festivus Song") was first sung in [[Dallas, Texas]], bars and taverns in the 2004-2005 holiday season. It is set to the tune of "[[O Canada]]".<ref>{{cite web | title=Oh Festivus | work=NODEWORKS Encyclopedia | url=http://pedia.nodeworks.com/O/OH/OHF/Oh_Festivus | accessdate = 2006-12-25}}</ref> * In 2005, [[Wisconsin]] Governor [[Jim Doyle]] was declared "Governor Festivus" and displayed a Festivus pole in the family room of the Executive Residence in Madison, Wisconsin during that holiday season.<ref>{{cite web | title=Gov. Festivus! | work=madison.com | url=http://www.madison.com/archives/read.php?ref=/tct/2005/12/23/0512230446.php | accessdate = 2006-12-25}}</ref> Governor Doyle's 2005 Festivus pole is now part of the collection of the Wisconsin Historical Museum <ref>{{cite web | title=Governor Doyle's Festivus Pole | work=Wisconsin Historical Society | url=http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/museum/artifacts/archives/003178.asp | accessdate = 2007-12-30}}</ref> * In 2007, a Wisconsin man requested permission to erect a Festivus pole next to [[Green Bay, Wisconsin|Green Bay]] City Hall's nativity scene as a tongue-in-cheek response to public religious displays.<ref>{{cite web | title=Green Bay Festivus pole | work=236.com | url=http://www.236.com/blog/w/joseph_minton_amann_and_tom_breuer/a_festivus_for_the_rest_of_us_3063.php | accessdate = 2007-12-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Festivus Pole Proposed After Wisconsin City Displays Nativity | work=FOXNews.com | url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,317090,00.html | accessdate = 2007-12-30}}</ref> * In an episode of the British comedy programme ''[[Peep Show]]'' entitled "Jeremy's Manager", Jeremy's band has a gig lined up at a fictional electronica festival called "Festivus", but they are dropped from the line-up when the organisers hear a CD of their music. It is not known whether the writers intentionally borrowed the name from its ''[[Seinfeld]]'' origin or whether it is a coincidence. ==References== {{reflist|2}} == External links == * [http://www.festivuspoles.com/pages/Festivuspoles.htm Festivus Pole Supplier] * [http://www.festivusbook.com/ Festivus Website] - People air grievances and a repository of Festivus information. * [http://apps.facebook.com/festivusgrievances/ Festivus Grievances Application] - A [[Facebook]] application that allows one to share grievances, and see what grievances have been aired against them. * [http://www.journaltimes.com/photo_galleries/120806festivus/video_shell.swf "How to make a Festivus Pole"] - Short documentary on Milwaukee company that makes Festivus poles * [http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2005/dec/18/festivus_rest_us/?christmas_holidays= "A Festivus for the Rest of Us"] - A Lawrence Journal-World Article * [http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/19/fashion/19FEST.html?n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/People/S/Salkin,%20Allen "Fooey to the World: Festivus Is Come"] - The New York Times, Dec. 19, 2004. * [http://www.festivussearch.info/ Festivus Party Search] - "Search for Festivus parties in North America." {{seinfeld}} [[Category:Christmas-linked holidays]] [[Category:Geek holidays]] [[Category:December observances]] [[Category:Seinfeld]] [[Category:Unofficial observances]] [[Category:Winter holidays]] [[eo:Festivus]] [[sv:Festivus]]