A Bookish Festivus for the Rest of Us on December 23

Twenty-five years ago on December 18, 1997, on the 10th episode of the ninth and last season of the show about nothing, folks around the world, especially those in the United States, learned about a "Festivus for the rest of us." Made up though it was, the holiday was real to Seinfeld writer Dan O’Keefe whose family started celebrating the holiday in the 1960s.

Since the airing of the Seinfeld episode on that fateful day in 1997, Festivus miracles have become very real for people who still remember. And on the 25th anniversary of its airing, maybe a new generation can begin again this holiday season with traditions of their own.

What Is Festivus?

Festivus is a made-up secular holiday as a backlash to the pressures and commercialism of the Christmas holiday season. While the holiday is most known to be observed on December 23, there are rumors that there is actually no set date and it can be celebrated any time between October and May. It’s made up, so go ahead and celebrate whenever you want!

Festivus Origins

According to O’Keefe, his father, Daniel O'Keefe Sr., created the Festivus holiday before any of his children were born. Young Dan celebrated with his family each year (well, sometimes twice a year, and sometimes not at all) not knowing it wasn’t an actual holiday celebrated by other families until others questioned him about this holiday they’d never heard of. The memory of Festivus faded into history until one of his younger brothers mentioned it at a party of co-workers. And thus, a Festivus miracle happened...

In the episode titled "The Strike" Frank Costanza (Jerry Stiller), George Costanza’s (Jason Alexander) father, tells Kramer (Michael Richards) the holiday began after he and another parent fought over the last doll on the shelf. In the exchange, the doll was destroyed, and Frank “realized there had to be another way.”

A Traditional Festivus Celebration in 5 Easy Steps:

1. Instead of a Christmas tree, a simple aluminum pole becomes a Festivus pole—the centerpiece of the entire holiday.
2. A Festivus dinner of meatloaf on a bed of lettuce is prepared, and then...
3. Guests are invited to the Airing of Grievances where each person discloses complaints they have of each other: "I got a lot of problems with you people and now you're gonna hear about it!" This part is typically recorded.
4. No Festivus celebration is complete without sharing Festivus miracles which are mundane, normal events boisterously exclaimed around the table: You made it for dinner? It's a Festivus miracle!
5. The holiday doesn’t end until someone pins the host during a wrestling match known as the Feats of Strength. This holiday tradition was especially triggering for poor ol' George.

Revamping an “Old” Tradition: A Bookish Festivus!

There are many ways to create your own way to celebrate Festivus, but we decided to add a bookish twist:

A Tower of Books: Instead of the traditional aluminum pole, might we suggest a tower of books? A pile of books? A book fortress? Maybe you can ask everyone invited to bring the books they’ve read throughout the year, and together you all create a truly unique holiday centerpiece?
	2. A Festivus Storybook Feast: Cook things represented in the books you’ve read. Perhaps a beet soup to represent the blood Amren drinks from Sarah J. Maas’s ACOTAR series. Or some butterbeer in honor of the magical world of Hogwarts.
3. Airing of Story Grievances: Share storylines and characters who disappointed you for one reason or another.
4. Festivus Miracles Based on Books: What happened in bookland this year that was a happy surprise? How many books did you collect this year? What special editions did you grab?
5. Feats of Book Knowledge Strength: Instead of physical fighting, how about a game of bookish trivia? Each guest could write 5-10 questions. Or perhaps character charades or "Who Am I?" with your favorite characters and/or authors?

If you're interested in learning more about the inside scoop of this holiday, Dan O'Keefe has penned a short tell-all called The Real Festivus: The True Story Behind America's Favorite Made-up Holiday. And if you'd like to go even deeper into the cultural phenomenon, grab Festivus! The Book: A Complete Guide to the Holiday for the Rest of Us written by the creator of FestivusWeb.com and endorsed by O'Keefe himself.

So, here's wishing you all a Happy Festivus!