Festivus is held on December 23 each year. In a 1997 episode of the popular television comedy, Seinfeld, this National Day was brought to the masses when Frank Costanza (played by Jerry Stiller) explains he invented the holiday in response to the commercialism of Christmas. Its slogan is “A Festivus for the rest of us.”

HOW TO OBSERVE

Festivus traditions derived from the television episode and the original creator have been combined over the years.

~The Festivus pole is an unadorned aluminum pole displayed in the home. In the O’Keefe household, there was no pole, but instead, a clock was placed in a bag and nailed to the wall.
~The traditional dinner is served during the evening.
~The Airing of Grievances occurs during dinner. Each person takes turns describing how the others have disappointed him or her over the past year.
~Feats of Strength follows dinner and involves wrestling the head of the household. The holiday is not complete unless the head of the household is pinned. Failure to pin the head of the household could result in perpetual Festivus.
~A Festivus Miracle is a frequent if unimpressive miracle. Carrying in all the groceries into the house for dinner without tripping or dropping one of the bags could be considered a Festivus Miracle.