Many people are going to be getting payday loans, or breaking out the credit cards for Christmas gifts this holiday season, as part of the annual gift giving traditions of the end of the year holidays such as Christmas or Hanukkah, but some people don’t celebrate the traditional holidays. Some people get fed up with the traditional holidays with the incessant commercialization of the end of the year celebrations, or possibly other overtones of them. Well, if you have had it up to here with snow, buying too much stuff, cards, and persistent cheeriness ad nauseum, then you can take notice – there is an alternative.
December 23rd is the Festivus for The Rest of Us
For the millions who are fans of the sitcom legend Seinfeld, this may be familiar territory. For those who were more of Friends fans, then let the lesson begin. If you don’t feel the need for getting payday loans to cover a shopping spree, you can celebrate an alternative holiday, invented by one of the show’s writers and incorporated into a famous episode. A holiday for the people that don’t get affected with Holiday Cheer (which by its definition, almost qualifies as a seasonal neurological disorder) the show presented to the world a new holiday, a seemingly more sensible holiday: Festivus!
What is Festivus, and How is it Celebrated?
Festivus is a winter (or summer for you folks below the equator – G’Day, Australia!) holiday that is celebrated every year on the 23rd of December. It has some features with Christmas, but with some subtle differences.
The Aluminum Pole
Instead of a Christmas tree, Festivus is celebrated by erecting a simple aluminum pole. It is far stronger than any conventional or plastic tree, and requires little to no decoration. According to the story in the episode, the creator of Festivus found tinsel “distracting.”
The Airing of Grievances and the Feats of Strength
After the Festivus dinner is finished (anything really, but in the show it was either spaghetti or meat loaf) then comes the Airing of Grievances. The Airing of Grievances is where each member of the congregation lets every other attendant hear the various ways they have angered and disappointed them over the course of the year up to that point. No grudges are held; all is forgiven and forgotten.
Once the Airing of Grievances has concluded; then comes the Feats of Strength. Many things can be the Feats of Strength, such as a hula hoop contest, thumb wrestling or ping pong– whatever you like; if you don’t want injuries-create something else. The traditional Feats of Strength ceremony is that the Head of the Household is wrestled by any and all challengers, and once it has begun, Festivus is only considered over when the head of the household has been successfully pinned.
A Festivus for the rest of us
The story of Festivus from the show was that George Costanza’s (Jason Alexander) father (Jerry Stiller) got into a fight with a man over a Christmas gift, and decided to create a new holiday because the traditional ones just weren’t cutting it anymore. Festivus may be not be for everyone, but anyone can celebrate payday loans, no matter what holiday they celebrate.
I loved that scene in Seinfeld, I always thought to myself one day I will celebrate… FESTIVUS !! But NO have I done it, instead I need some fast cash for
“My Holiday Cheer” with a payday loan.
it’s always a treat to watch all the christmas episodes of the shows. and of course you can’t miss “a christmas story”!