Its time to celebrate Festivus…

Posted on | December 23, 2005 | No Comments

The Festivus dinner menu is flexible, but it should consist of filling, non-holiday comfort food. An entree with a red sauce is more festive, so meatloaf or spaghetti are favorites for Festivus Dinner. Drinking is not looked down apon but is encouraged in most Festivus celebrations. Rum, Bourbon, Wine or Beer are all acceptable

Durring this time, we share with family and friends all the ways they had disappointed over the past year.The airing of the grievances must take place prior to Festivus dinner. To start the Airing of the Grievances the head of the house hold proclaimes "I’ve got a lot of problems with you people, and now you’re going to hear about them!""

Held after Festivus dinner, the head of the household tests his/her strength with another friend/family member. The great honour is given out to a different person each year. Traditionally, Festivus is not over until the head of the household is wrestled to the floor and "pinned." 

The festivus pole is not a tree. It is undecorated as tinsel and blinking lights can be very distracting. The pole is typically tall, silver, hollow, long, skinny and heavy. Must have a very hight stength-to-weight ratio, and be low maintenance..

The festivus miracle should never be overlooked. It is generally a matter of strange coincidence. 

 (ie. "When, at one point in the episode, two sleazy betting-window guys from the off-track betting parlor call H&H; Bagels (Ellain’s fake phone number) for Elaine, Kramer (who was on strike against H&H;, but went inside the store because he had to use the bathroom) answers the phone and explains that he is about to see Elaine and invites the bookies to join him for Festivus. Kramer enthusiastically declares "It’s a Festivus miracle!")

• - During the 2000 NFL regular season, Baltimore Ravens coach Brian Billick forbade anyone to use the "P-word" (presumably "postseason" or "playoffs") until the team actually played in it. In its place, the word "Festivus" was used. The Super Bowl was then referred to as "Festivus Maximus."
• The Wagner Companies began manufacturing Festivus Poles for the 2005 season. (http://www.festivuspoles.com/pages/Festivuspoles.htm)
• Columbia University’s Living-Learning Center holds a Festivus celebration during first semester finals in honor of Seinfeld.
• Drew Universiyt holds a midnight breakfast during exam week in celebration of Festivus with all the elements of Festivus including the Aluminum Pole, Feats of Strength, and Airing of Grievances.
• The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s first Festivus celebration was organized by Andy Pascaly in 2003. Since then, the gathering has grown to about 300 participants in 2004.

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