How 'Seinfeld' Fans Are Celebrating Festivus for the Rest of Us Ahead of Christmas
'Twitter is just year-round Festivus'
Twitter is just year-round Festivus. pic.twitter.com/uKUMri7dJS
— Josh Reavis (@joshreavis) December 23, 2021
Dan O'Keefe, who went on to write for Veep and Silicon Valley, has talked about the origins of the holiday countless times. In 2005, he even published The Real Festivus: The True Story Behind America's Favorite Made-up Holiday, a memoir about the origins of the holiday. Some of the traditions in the episode were made-up, including the Festivus pole, which O'Keefe credited Seinfeld writer Jeff Schaffer with creating.
prevnext'Seinfeld at its best'
Seinfeld at its best. Jerry Stiller – George's parents 😆 Feats Of Strength – Kramer – the light-hearted fun of many too often unfortunately real family gatherings 😆 😆 Happy Festivus all 💚 Laughter is good 💚 ❤ https://t.co/wzP4y20bSp
— elizabeth geyer 🎧🌿 (@elizabethgeyer) December 23, 2021
While on The Daily Beast's Fever Dreams podcast earlier this month, O'Keefe said the one "real" Festivus tradition that made it to the episode was the Airing of the Grievances. "It was just a very formalized setting for yelling at us," O'Keefe recalled. "Yeah, growing up, myself and my two brothers were in a form of child abuse that yet wasn't recognized as such by the state of New York, induced to perform seasonal rituals."
prevnextWatching 'The Strike' on Festivus
Every December 23rd! It’s tradition! Happy Festivus! Let the airing of grievances begin and I’ve got a lot of problems with you people! 😂😉 pic.twitter.com/l2jwMZ5Xdm
— Bari Boisvert (@MrsBoisvert) December 23, 2021
O'Keefe tried to put the memories of the real Festivus behind him, but when his colleagues heard about it, the real Jerry Seinfeld thought it was hilarious and wanted it for the show. "I tried to dissuade them as convincingly as I could, saying, 'I have the greatest love and respect for the show. I don't think you want to do that to it. It's done nothing to deserve that.' But they said, 'Look, it can go in your episode or someone else's.' So I figure, f— it, if this has to be smeared onto the world, that I might as well be the hand doing the smearing."
prevnextA fan built their own Festivus pole
I’m ready! Happy Festivus! pic.twitter.com/xV9NsdoTD1
— CallingAtom (@AtomCalling) December 23, 2021
Festivus has long outgrown just an O'Keefe family holiday. There's even a whole website dedicated to it, FestivusWeb.com, which includes all the rules to celebrating.
prevnextDrinking coffee from a Human Fund mug
Happy Festivus! pic.twitter.com/QUznuqyWDb
— Angela Lewis (@angelalewis23) December 23, 2021
"The Strike" and all episodes of Seinfeld are now available to stream on Netflix.
prevnextJason Alexander celebrates!
My cat Festus told me to tell you Happy Festivus!#CatsOfTwitter pic.twitter.com/Imr6Ip5KwI
— M.E.Howard (@MEHPhotos) December 23, 2021
Jason Alexander marked the holiday this year. "Get out the poles and grievances. Happy Festivus, y'all," he tweeted.
prev