US EditionWhat Is Festivus? The 'Seinfeld' Holiday Has Real 'Sinister' Origins
Festivus, inspired by a 1997 Seinfeld episode, offers a non-commercial holiday with traditions like an aluminum pole and airing grievances, embraced by fans worldwide.
- On Dec. 23, Festivus is observed annually as the Seinfeld-set date, and many fans now mark it with parties and pole displays, coverage updated December 22, 2025 notes.
- Dan O'Keefe adapted a family custom that began around 1966 by Daniel O'Keefe Sr. into a Festivus storyline for Seinfeld.
- Rituals center on three pillars—the pole, grievances and a feat of strength, while the Festivus dinner is debated as meatloaf or spaghetti.
- Public recognition has followed the fandom, with Jim Doyle's 2005 Festivus pole now in the Wisconsin Historical Museum and the Tampa Bay Times soliciting grievances since 2016.
- Interest in Festivus spikes each Dec. 23, driven by nostalgia, social media and modern frustrations like rising costs and year-end burnout, as it appeals as a tongue-in-cheek alternative to holiday commercialism.
15 Articles
15 Articles
‘I’ve Got a Lot of Problems With You People!’: What Festivus Gets Right about Christmas
Sadly, the Revised Common Lectionary doesn’t assign a scripture reading to the high holy day of Festivus. If it did, I imagine it would be one in which Jesus called his audience a “brood of vipers” (Matthew 12:34) or the prophet Hosea referred to God’s people as “children of whoredom” (Hosea 1:2). Of course, Frank Costanza, the Seinfeld character who introduced Festivus to the world, wouldn’t have kind things to say about anyone speculating on …
Johnstown bookstore celebrates holiday popularized by 90s sitcom
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (WTAJ) — A bookstore in downtown Johnstown celebrated the holidays in a different fashion Saturday by turning to a popular 90s sitcom. Chameleon Bookstore at Gazebo Park celebrated the fictional holiday "Festivus," first introduced in 1997 by the TV show “Seinfeld” and writer Dan O’Keefe, according to our media partners at the Tribune [...]
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