What is Festivus? How to celebrate the ‘Seinfeld’ holiday on December 23rd

On December 24, 2024By Littum

We have a lot of problems with people who don’t think Festivus is a real holiday.

And now you’re going to hear about it.

A “Seinfeld”-themed holiday that Jason Alexander’s George Costanza can attest is “all too real” comes every Dec. 23, when fans of the iconic sitcom remember classic 1997 episode “The Strike.”

The bizarre holiday, which involves an airing of grievances and feats of strength, was invented on the show by Frank Costanza, George’s father, played by the late comedy legend Jerry Stiller.

“It’s a Festivus for the rest of us!” Frank Costanza declares.

Here’s what you need to know about the secular holiday.

What is the meaning of December 23 on ‘Seinfeld’?

As a card sent to him by his father reminded George in the 1997 episode, Festivus comes every December 23rd.

In real life, it was invented by the father of former “Seinfeld” writer Dan O’Keefe in 1966. O’Keefe incorporated it into the show when he wrote “The Strike” episode.

Festivus is “a peculiar holiday that is unique to our peculiar family,” O’Keefe told TODAY in 2016.

“Was I surprised that actual people adopted a weird TV holiday based on a crazy family tradition that bordered on child endangerment?” O’Keefe joked. “That would be “yes.” As to why this happened, I think the answer is clear: it is a sign that the end of days is upon us.”

As Frank tells Kramer in the classic episode, the no-frills holiday was created as a reaction to the commercialization of Christmas. It was born when Frank said he was fighting with another man over a coveted doll for young George around Christmas time.

“When I was raining blows on him, I realized there had to be another way,” says Frank. “(The doll) was destroyed, but out of it a new holiday was born. A Festivus for the rest of us!”

George was scarred by the celebration of the holiday as a child.

“It’s nothing! It’s a stupid holiday my father made up. It doesn’t exist!” he shouts to Jerry and Elaine early in the episode.

How to celebrate Festivus on December 23rd

Instead of a tree, get a plain aluminum bar to display around the house. This is especially true if you’re like Frank and “find tinsel distracting.” You’ll also want to look for a “very high strength-to-weight ratio” in your Festivus rod.
Gather to air grievances. Gather the family around the table “and tell them all the ways they’ve disappointed you over the last year,” as Frank put it. “I have many problems with you! Now you must hear about it,” he says.
Prepare for feats of strength. This may involve fighting with the family patriarch in front of everyone. Until you pin him, Festivus isn’t over. “Stop crying and fight your father,” Frank tells a despondent George.
You couldn’t smooth a silk sheet if you had a hot date with a babe… wait, sorry, we lost our train of thought here. The next is…
Be like Kramer and declare even the mildest coincidence “a Festivus miracle!”
Use Festivus as an excuse if you’re caught soliciting donations to your fake charity instead of sending out Christmas cards to your co-workers. Tell the boss you don’t celebrate Christmas and you were afraid you’d be “hounded” for celebrating Festivus instead.