Happy Festivus!!!

If you are a Seinfeld follower just like myself, you wouldn’t have missed this date as the Day of the Festivus.

This particular holiday, as it is known today by many, was invented by Frank Costanza, George’s father, in the Seinfeld episode, The Strike, wherein Kramer returned to work at a bagel shop. In the shop, Frank told Kramer how he came up with this idea as a protest and as an alternative to the all too much commercialization of Christmas celebrations.

Festivus begins with an unadorned aluminum pole, in stark contrast to heavily decorated christmas trees. A celebratory dinner consisting of spaghetti in red sauce is served. No alcohol is consumed although it is alright to come to the celebrations already drunk. (Actually preferred by the celebrants.)

Now instead of gift-giving, the dinner is immediately followed by what is called the “Airing of Grievances”. Each person present in the gathering writes his grievances on the fridge using a marker, and tells everyone all the ways they have disappointed him over the past year.

Finally, the “Feats of Strength” is carried on. Here, the head of the house challenges anyone for a wrestling match. You can refuse the challenge if you have some valid excuse like if you are going to work on a nightshift later. Festivus goes on until no one succeeds in pinning down the head of the house.

And that my friends, is Festivus in a nutshell.

Tomorrow, I shall post how the Swedes celebrate Christmas and you’ll understand why I’d prefer celebrating Festivus over Christmas anytime of the day!