Celebrating A Festivus for the Rest of Us

Dec 23, 2021

Maybe you don’t celebrate Christmas, or Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa but want to get into the holiday spirit nonetheless? Well, there’s good news, because today is Festivus, the celebration for the rest of us! The inventive holiday first appeared in 1997 on the hit TV show Seinfeld. Key components to the unique and wacky holiday include the Festivus dinner feast, the aluminum Festivus pole, “Airing of Grievances” and “Feats of Strength.” This cheeky pseudo-holiday from TV has evolved from clever gag to an ever growing pop culture seasonal celebration!

Looking to throw an exciting Festivus event of your own? We’re here to help with our fun guide! So invite your friends to road trip for a visit and enjoy a festivus feast together.

How to Celebrate Festivus At Home

Acquire a Festivus Pole and decorate: 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. Look around your home and find an aluminum pole of any size or length. According to the holiday’s founder, one famed Frank Cosntanza, it cannot be made of any other material.
Prepare the Festivus meal and call guests to the table: The traditional Festivus meal 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. Place the dinner on the table and invite all of your guests to sit down to proceed in the first celebration.
Airing of Grievances: Just before serving the meal, place a clock inside of a bag and nail it to the wall (don’t ask, just do.) Prior to the meal in lieu of prayer during religious holidays, the Festivus tradition instructs us 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: After the meal it’s time to commence the final Festivus tradition. The “Feats of Strength” tests are immediately following the Festivus feast (although some exuberant folks do start earlier as the meal winds down.) The rules are as follows: 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!