Posted on 12/21/2005 11:36:24 AM PST by Cagey
ALTERNATIVE CELEBRATIONS: Pole for the holidays
Celebrating the holidays with a diverse group of friends can get tricky. That's where Festivus, the "holiday for the rest of us," comes in.
Invented in 1966 by a Reader's Digest editor but made popular through a 1997 "Seinfeld" episode, the fictional celebration has been brought to life by fervent supporters across the country - including Clarkston native Blake Coe.
According to the "Seinfeld" episode, Festivus is celebrated on Dec. 23 and is marked by a tinsel-free aluminum pole, feats of strength - like wrestling - and the airing of grievances, during which followers tell loved ones how they have disappointed them during the year.
Though Coe, 24, also celebrates Christmas, he said Festivus is a welcome break from the holidays.
"With all of the things that now make the Christmas season about political correctness, over-commercialization and greed, it is refreshing that Festivus separates itself from that," said Coe, who has been celebrating the fictional holiday for five years.
Coe recently moved to Chicago, but he'll be home in Clarkston for Festivus. On Saturday, Coe's parents, Sally and Ken, put up the pole. Grandma was there, too.
Coe said he bought the aluminum pole - a centerpiece of Festivus celebrations - a few years ago at Home Depot for $5. However, merchants are now selling them online for almost $40. "I wish we had thought of that at the time," Blake Coe said, laughing.
The term "Festivus" yields more than 20,000 Web sites in monthly Google searches, said Allen Salkin, who tracked the figures for his new book, "Festivus: The Holiday for the Rest of Us," which was released in October by Warner Books.
"Nobody else is writing about it, but it is out there - a very deep and widespread subculture," Salkin said. "I think it has to do with a need for tolerance and a holiday where you don't exclude anybody."
Coe and his friends observe the feats of strength by holding annual billiards and video game tournaments. As for the airing of grievances - "we pretty much go around and talk about each other's less finer moments," said Pat Heber, a Clarkston resident who recently graduated from Michigan State University.
Typically, the feats of strength, or aggression-absorbing activities, are held immediately after the airing of grievances, but there are no hard and fast rules, Salkin said.
That flexibility makes it easy for everyone to celebrate Festivus, he added.
But not everyone will. Elizabeth Zill of Frankenmuth, who is featured in Salkin's book, said one Festivus celebration was enough for her family. A few years ago, Zill strung lights around a metal coat rack and presented it to her teenage daughter as an alternative to the Christmas tree the family never bought.
"Oh, my daughter was ticked at me," Zill said, laughing. "George didn't find it too amusing either," she added, referring to "Seinfeld" character George Costanza (Jason Alexander), who was less than thrilled about his father's idea. "I have a George."
If I may, he was projecting emptiness upon people who "celebrate" Christmas, but as a purely secular holiday.
That's pretty empty. He wasn't attacking followers of other faiths. You must admit, if I celebrated Hannukah just so I could eat latkes and get gifts, but didn't believe in God, that would be pretty shallow.
SD
Tillie. Even Bruce Springsteen couldn't save him.
http://www.savetillie.com/
Loy Krathong is awesome, got to be there for that once!
And if it weren't for all the "empty' celebrations at this time of year, our economy wouldn't feel the boost every year either.
There is a santa down the street that lays on his back half the time. They can't keep him aired up. I don't care for them either. I like a few lites and decorations but just like inside you can go overboard.
I think that would be the "English Grammer" program, in that case.
I was giving an example. Following form without any spiritual meaning is empty. At least empty of spiritual meaning/benefit, which was what was meant.
And if it weren't for all the "empty' celebrations at this time of year, our economy wouldn't feel the boost every year either.
No doubt. But that doesn't make them unempty.
SD
Did you ever see Bruce play there?
If you go back and read my posts carefully you will not find a single instance where I said anything about non-Christians in general feeling empty. I have talked about those who are non Christians but "celebrate" a Christian holiday as if they were. Then they try to change the meaning so they won't feel like outsiders.
Why do so many Christians feel the need to project emptiness on non Christians?
I haven't a clue if that is even true, but it certainly isn't anything I have done. I only refer to those who seek to tag along. I address them specifically.
It might be hard for you to understand, but some of us do not feel empty without your religion at all.
It's not hard at all and I wouldn't expect you to feel empty. I hope your belief in Judaism fills you up! I share a belief in God with you. I wish you joy on your joyous holidays. I wish you well in all you do.
I even wish all those who seek to marginalize Christmas well. Which is not to say I won't challenge them on it.
Damn, I could go for som latkes now, and some polish gwumkes!
Fattening and heart stopping as hell, but oh, so good!
A rare person who actually reads the posts. Thank you.
But who is to say those people feel empty? Maybe they don't. This arrogance of, "if you don't believe the way I do and celebrate the way I do, you feel empty" is pure bs.
"Festivus" is every bit as real, and deserves every bit as much respect, reverence, and political correctness as "kwanza".
Really, not everyone who doesn't celebrate Christmas your way feels empty.
No doubt:')
I must go now. Have a Merry Christmas to all the Christians here. Have a nice day to the rest. And good luck to all those who can only feel worthy if they attack others. Like the nice person who says "Screw Christmas". That poor soul is tortured.
Ditto
Oh, so now you are hinting that YOU celebrate Christmas?
Actually, Springsteen played at The Stoned Pony which was a few blocks away from The Palace.
I was too young to get in when Springsteen played there. LOL
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