Festivus: Information from Answers.com Mobile

Festivus

Festivus is a fictional, non-denominational festival that was invented by Frank Constanza (Jerry Stiller) in an episode of "Seinfeld". Celebrated every December 23rd, Festivus was designed by Constanza as a protest to the consumerism of the holiday season, following an experience in which he got into a fight with a man in a toy store when they both tried to grab the last doll in the shop.

The hallmarks of the Festivus holiday are:

The Festivus pole -- an eight-foot, heavy, aluminum pole with no tinsel or ornaments (since Frank Constanza finds tinsel distracting)

The Feats of Strength -- a wrestling match in which the head of the family tests his strength against another member of the family. The Festivus celebration is not considered to be over until the head of the family is pinned, and family members may only decline to fight if they have something better to do (which is uncommon in the Constanza family).

The Airing of Grievances -- a forum in which each member of the family has a chance to tell the others all the ways in which they were a disappointment during the course of the year.

Despite his hatred of the family tradition, George Costanza (Jason Alexander), who always lost the "Feats of Strength" wrestling match, tried to get off from work for Festivus on December 23rd, arguing that he was being denied the right to practice his own belief. His boss decided to call his bluff and came home with him to see the holiday being celebrated. At the episode's end, George, as always, was beaten resoundingly by his father.

In addition to being celebrated annually by the fictional Constanza family, Festivus is celebrated by some "Seinfeld" fans on December 23rd each year.

Last updated: December 25, 2005.