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."
Maybe you substitute some "traditional" Yulestice pork? Mine is going in the oven now...
No, my fiance does. And for him it involves food and gift giving.
Who is to say it is "pure bs"? ;-)
People aping the spiritual actions of others certainly appears to be empty. Perhaps these people just don't know any better. Perhaps they gain some kind of benefit. So perhaps "empty" is the wrong word.
But it's certainly not anything like the actual holiday.
SD
If it were me, I'd be installing the pole in the bedroom. And giving Sally a gift certificate for dancing lessons.
; )
Added both of you to the Seinfeld ping list.
> It might be hard for you to understand...
For some (such as he whom you are wasting your time responding to) understanding is so difficult that he has given up trying, and has filled that emptiness with petty jealousy and a *massive* case of pridefulness.
Just recognize that there are some truly stunted minds in the world, and move on.
> He wasn't attacking followers of other faiths.
Give him time:
"How come you aren't out shooting up your high school or something like the rest of your Godless brethern?"
That gem comes from: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1543993/posts?page=1634#1634
So he's not a Christian? If so, I hope he has fun, but whatever the heck he does, it ain't Christmas. It might be eating and giving presents, but it's not Christmas. Why would he try to attach himself to something that has nothing to do with what he wants?
If I eat your dishes on Hannukah, am I a Jew? Am I celebrating your holiday? Ummm, no.
I'm doing my best to keep up with all these here holidays. Would a corn-dog do?
I haven't had a problem with others enjoying Christmas however they want but this season has been the saddest for me. I feel like Christians are being excluded as the "outsiders" of their own religious holiday. Kind of like we put up the "big tent" and are now getting booted out.
Festivus has equal standing with Kwanza, the black holiday made up in the '60s by a Communist professor at Berkley, I believe. And yet, Hallmark, with a straight face, prints cards for Kwanza. I'm sure they'll do the same for Festivus if they can make a buck off it.
SD
It's also good to know who you're dealing with. And it's "old" only insofar as "yesterday" was a "long time ago."
Things aren't as bad as some in the media make it out to be. Some organizations thrive and profit from generating controversy and this is their high season. Don't forget that.
As for people being secular and still nominally celebrating Christmas, I don't really have a problem with that. Sure, it's less than ideal, but at least it keeps a vestige of Christianity alive in the hearts and minds of both the individuals in question and society as a whole.
We'd be far worse if people ignored Christmas, or forgot about it completely.
SD
Damn straight. Capitalism is good.
SD
And for my airing of grievances: I am very disappointed in your ability to take a joke.
No, he identifies as a Christian. But he's not the church going, talk about his beliefs every 10 seconds variety.
Don't forget "The Junior Mint" episode.
"I haven't had a problem with others enjoying Christmas however they want but this season has been the saddest for me. I feel like Christians are being excluded as the "outsiders" of their own religious holiday. Kind of like we put up the "big tent" and are now getting booted out."
I have to wonder if the various pre-Christian peoples -- who all had SOME sort of Winter Solstice celebration around this time -- felt the same way -- that they were alll getting "booted out" of "their" religious holiday when the early Christians decided to celebrate Christ's birthday in late December and basically took over the festivities. : -)
I'm a Christian (Catholic) and I don't feel like an "outsider" at all. I think there has been a great deal of exaggeration and hype being stirred up by media who want us to believe there really is a "war on Christmas".
Anyway, it really does not bother me whether people say Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas, as long as it is sincere. Either way, what counts is "happy" and "merry," the smiles and the good wishes.
Since it is December 21 today: HAPPY WINTER SOLSTICE TO YOU ALL!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.