nickel
12-19-2005, 08:33 AM
According to Seinfeld, Festivus is celebrated each year on December 23, but many people celebrate it other times, often in early December. Its slogan is "A Festivus for the rest of us!" An aluminum pole is generally used in lieu of a Christmas tree or other holiday decoration. Those attending participate in the "Airing of Grievances" which is an opportunity for all to vent their hostilities toward each other, and after a Festivus dinner, The Feats of Strength are performed. Traditionally, Festivus is not over until the head of the household is wrestled to the floor and "pinned."
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/5c/Festivuspole.gif/250px-Festivuspole.gif
Frank Costanza (played by Jerry Stiller, left) holds the aluminum pole his family has used in past Festivus celebrations, while talking to Jerry Seinfeld
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/15/Festivusairingofgreivances.gif
The Airing of Grievances
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Main elements of Festivus
The Festivus celebration includes four major components:
-The Festivus Pole: The Costanzas' tradition begins with a bare aluminum pole, which Frank praises for its "very high strength-to-weight ratio." During Festivus, an unadorned aluminum pole is displayed. The pole was chosen apparently in opposition to the commercialization of highly decorated Christmas trees, because it is "very low-maintenance," and also because the holiday's patron, Frank Costanza, "find[s] tinsel distracting."
-Festivus Dinner: The Festivus dinner menu is flexible, but it should be filling non-holiday comfort food (no turkey, duck, goose, or ham). The televised dinner featured what may have been meatloaf or spaghetti in a red sauce. (Presumably, an entree in a red sauce is more festive.) Alcohol can be drunk from a flask, since that is what was seen being done by Kruger at the table.
-The Airing of Grievances: At the Festivus dinner, each participant tells friends and family all of the instances where they disappointed him or her that year.
-The Feats of Strength: The head of the family tests his or her strength against one participant of the head's choosing. Festivus is not considered over until the head of the family has been pinned to the ground. A participant is allowed to decline to attempt to pin the head of the family only if they have something better to do instead.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festivus
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/5c/Festivuspole.gif/250px-Festivuspole.gif
Frank Costanza (played by Jerry Stiller, left) holds the aluminum pole his family has used in past Festivus celebrations, while talking to Jerry Seinfeld
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/15/Festivusairingofgreivances.gif
The Airing of Grievances
----------------------------------------------------------
Main elements of Festivus
The Festivus celebration includes four major components:
-The Festivus Pole: The Costanzas' tradition begins with a bare aluminum pole, which Frank praises for its "very high strength-to-weight ratio." During Festivus, an unadorned aluminum pole is displayed. The pole was chosen apparently in opposition to the commercialization of highly decorated Christmas trees, because it is "very low-maintenance," and also because the holiday's patron, Frank Costanza, "find[s] tinsel distracting."
-Festivus Dinner: The Festivus dinner menu is flexible, but it should be filling non-holiday comfort food (no turkey, duck, goose, or ham). The televised dinner featured what may have been meatloaf or spaghetti in a red sauce. (Presumably, an entree in a red sauce is more festive.) Alcohol can be drunk from a flask, since that is what was seen being done by Kruger at the table.
-The Airing of Grievances: At the Festivus dinner, each participant tells friends and family all of the instances where they disappointed him or her that year.
-The Feats of Strength: The head of the family tests his or her strength against one participant of the head's choosing. Festivus is not considered over until the head of the family has been pinned to the ground. A participant is allowed to decline to attempt to pin the head of the family only if they have something better to do instead.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festivus