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."
> OK, on what date was Christ born?
If he was a real person and the New Testament has an accurate account of his birth, sometime in spring of 4 BC seems to be the general concensus.
But then, lying isn't a problem when there is no right and wrong, is it?
Actually, you have been running around this site spewing hatred for quite a while.
What was your first post on this thread? Please repost it for the benefit of anyone who wants to know "who they are dealing with".
>A sarcastic RESPONSE to a person of no faith.
Not sarcastic, but insultingly mean spirited and ignorant. Rather akin to assuming that everyone of an ethnic group other than yours is a dangerous violent savage.
And, as usual, wrong on the "no faith" part, too.
> What faith ARE the Godlesss anyway?
Well, Jews, muslims, Wiccans, Buddhists, Hindus... rather a lot of the Godless have faith.
> lying isn't a problem when there is no right and wrong, is it?
I wouldn't know. I see there as being right and wrong. As do agnostics, atheists, heathens, pagans, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, you name it.
But hey, don't let reality get in the way of a childish put-down that does nothign but make you look stupid...
> What was your first post on this thread?
I'm sure you can dig it up. Did I suggest that you should be out shooting children just like everyone else who believes like you?
I see, so then he's not a Christian? Kinda hard to tell by your answer.
If not, he is one of the folks who I have addressed.
BTW, I don't know anyone who talks about their beliefs every ten seconds, and going to church is not something bad, as your post somehow seems to imply.
In fact, for Christians, going to church to be in fellowship with other Christians and to regularly worship the living God is an integral part of being a Christian.
A church isn't a building BTW. I don't expect you to know these things, but if he identifies himself as a Christian, he must know that. (Or should know that)
It's possible that he is one of a growing number of "Christians in name only". Many of them actually go to Church on occasion.
In any case, if he is a "CINO", then he is embracing the secular concept of Christmas without the real concept. Which of course brings us full circle to the empty feeling that folks like that have.
I would feel empty without God in my life, so I can sympathize. Life is harder for such people. And they should be prayed for.
good grief ping!
I do not expect honesty from atheists in any case. It would be illogical for me expect it from people who do not have a moral reason to embrace the truth. So that's not a problem either.
I always wonder why you folks are on this site. (other than to troll) It is, after all, a site dedicated in part to God. It's printed right there on the first page if you want to check it out.
Good manners would then prompt you to depart. Of course good manners are not part of the agenda are they?
The New Testament does not hint at what time of the year he was born.
Hmmm, you seem reticent to say what faith you are. I'll give you YET ANOTHER chance to say if you like.
Well, Jews, muslims, Wiccans, Buddhists, Hindus... rather a lot of the Godless have faith.
Some of those folks will be quite shocked to learn they have no God. Particularly the Jews and Muslims.
I wouldn't know. I see there as being right and wrong. As do agnostics, atheists, heathens, pagans, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, you name it.
Yet there is no logical reason for you to think there is any morality. And you are wrong again about the Jews. Where ever do you get your "information"?
But hey, don't let reality get in the way of a childish put-down that does nothign but make you look stupid...
This is pretty rich coming from a person who came onto this thread with his first post being an insult to Christians. Childish is something you have down to a science though. heck, I'm sure you are just a child. Who else would troll this site spewing that hate constantly? (Well, a liberal I guess, but that's a given)
> The New Testament does not hint at what time of the year he was born.
People with greater knowledge than I of the sheep herding art in the middle east repeatedly point out that the flocking activites described are non-wintery.
> you seem reticent to say what faith you are.
Imagine that.
>>I wouldn't know. I see there as being right and wrong. As do agnostics, atheists, heathens, pagans, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, you name it.
>Yet there is no logical reason for you to think there is any morality.
Once again you display ignorance.
> And you are wrong again about the Jews
And now you declare that the Jews are morality-free.
Ye Gods you ARE a troll, and an anti-semetic one at that.
> first post being an insult to Christians
Nope.
Well, I believe I have had about enough of you. So, have fun yipping at yourself.
No, he is aC hristian. You don't get to decide what makes a Christian and what doesn't. For him, Jesus is the messiah. But like I said, he doesn't feel the need to bring it up every 10 minutes.
There is much speculation over this and it is not even close to being definitive...
Are you so insecure in your beliefs that anyone who disagrees with you has to be labeled a "troll" or an "atheist?"
"Good manners would then prompt you to depart. Of course good manners are not part of the agenda are they?"
Your body of work on this thread speaks for itself. I don't have an agenda, that's your area of expertise. Unfortunately, good manners are NOT part of any agenda when dealing with an intolerant boor like you. You make that impossible with your sanctimonious rantings and insults.
BTW, you wrote "It is, after all, a site dedicated in part to God. It's printed right there on the first page if you want to check it out." Well...I did!
Go to http://www.freerepublic.com/home.htm and search for the word God. It's not there. Check you glasses.
GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE
30 ounces green beans, canned, drained*
10 3/4 ounces cream of mushroom soup
3/4 cup milk
2 3/4 ounces french fried onions
1/8 teaspoon pepper
Mix green beans, soup, milk, pepper and 1/2 of the onions together.
Spread mixture in a 1 1/2- to 2-quart casserole dish. Bake at 350 F for 25 minutes. Top with remaining onions. Bake 5 minutes more.
Note: *May substitute 18 ounces frozen cut green beans, thawed and drained.
Serving Size: 6
This means war.
Cool. It's gonna be slow here at work today, so let's go.
Ta ta
What does that mean?
You don't get to decide what makes a Christian and what doesn't.
Just for the record, I never claimed he was or wasn't anything, your implication notwithstanding.
Actually, there is a litmus test, but I didn't write it.
For him, Jesus is the messiah.
Hmmm, now there is a "you don't get to decide" issue. What he thinks is irrelevant. Either Christ is the messiah, or he isn't. Belief of anyone or even everyone make no difference at all.
But like I said, he doesn't feel the need to bring it up every 10 minutes.
I don't know any people like that actually, but I guess they must exist if you say so.
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.