Festivus: A Holiday for the Rest of Us

Today is Festivus, the celebration for the rest of us! This cheeky pseudo-holiday turned into an ever growing pop culture seasonal celebration, but it first appeared in 1997 as originated on Seinfeld, a hit sitcom of the decade. Key components to the unique and wacky holiday include the Festivus dinner feast, the aluminum Festivus pole, “Airing of Grievances” and “Feats of Strength.”

(image from Seinfeld TV series)

How to Celebrate Festivus At Home

Acquire a Festivus Pole and decorate: Look around your home and find an aluminum pole of any size or length. It cannot be made of any other material, according to holiday founder Frank Costanza. It’s best to keep it as non-commercial as possible, and thus upcycling is preferred. The pole itself should remain undecorated, but you should place it in a central viewing area.
Prepare the Festivus meal and call guests to the table: This consists of your choice of meat served on a bed of lettuce - Turkey, Ham, Lamb Chops, or Beef Stew - or the traditional meatloaf on lettuce. Just before serving, place a clock inside of a bag and nail it to the wall. Place the dinner on the table and invite all of your guests to sit down.
Airing of Grievances: Before eating, in lieu of any mealtime prayer of religious holidays, take this opportunity to go around the table and tell the others how they have disappointed you in the past year. Once you’ve cleared the air and everyone’s said their peace, it’s time to dig in.
Feats of Strength: This is the last and final Festivus tradition, and occurs immediately following the Festivus feast (although some do start during the meal as it winds down. The head of the household chooses one Festivus guest, and challenges them to a wrestling match and test of strength. The head of household must be pinned by other family members, the honor of which is given to someone seated at the main table. Festivities do not end until the host is pinned, so choose wisely!