Festivus is not a real holiday. But if you hear people wishing each other Happy Festivus on Dec. 23, it is probably due to one show on the popular U.S. sitcom, Seinfeld, which has become popular over the last few years.
Festivus was first mentioned on the show in the Dec. 18, 1997 episode, called The Strike, when Frank Costanza, played by Jerry Stiller, first conceived of the idea.
Among the memorable Festivus quotes from the episode was when Constanza explained how the holiday came into being. He told of how he got into a fight with another customer in a store for the last doll, the doll was destroyed but, as Constanza said, “out of that a new holiday was born: a Festivus for the rest of us!”
The holiday consists of a few main traditions, including erecting a “Festivus pole” and having meatloaf for dinner.
Festivus also has two other festivities that are rather—eccentric. One is allowing family members to exchange their disappointments in each other—to each other. Another, known as “feats of strength,” is a wrestling competition that continues until the family patriarch is pinned to the floor.
But irrespective of its origins, the holiday has been growing in popularity, with its own website. And for three years straight, the Illinois Capitol building has been erecting a Festivus pole in Springfield, Ill.
Festivus was first mentioned on the show in the Dec. 18, 1997 episode, called The Strike, when Frank Costanza, played by Jerry Stiller, first conceived of the idea.
Among the memorable Festivus quotes from the episode was when Constanza explained how the holiday came into being. He told of how he got into a fight with another customer in a store for the last doll, the doll was destroyed but, as Constanza said, “out of that a new holiday was born: a Festivus for the rest of us!”
The holiday consists of a few main traditions, including erecting a “Festivus pole” and having meatloaf for dinner.
Festivus also has two other festivities that are rather—eccentric. One is allowing family members to exchange their disappointments in each other—to each other. Another, known as “feats of strength,” is a wrestling competition that continues until the family patriarch is pinned to the floor.
But irrespective of its origins, the holiday has been growing in popularity, with its own website. And for three years straight, the Illinois Capitol building has been erecting a Festivus pole in Springfield, Ill.
