This guy is more legit than Maulana Karenga
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."
Hey now. No one said anything about having to "embrace" those things.
Kinda like Mickey mouse has more legitimacy than Bugs Bunny.
Lots of psychedelic drug use and pop psychology in 1966.
Just way to self analyze and FEEEEEL goood, by getting it off one's chest. Ought to make for a nice happy warm family holiday.
It's a nice way to tell some of the annoying elements of the world to go f$%^ durng this time of year. Not everybody enjoys the holiday season, and for many the reason they don't enjoy it how seriously so many people take what's supposed to be a time of fun and reflection. Many are the times people have confronted me like I was crazy for not decorating for Christmas, now rather than going through a long winded explanation of how the world turns into a really annoying place during this time of year and I like leaving it at the door I can just say I celebrate Festivus (I don't, but I could if I wanted to). Since no matter what you tell the holiday cheer nazis they're always going to think you're mental might as well go with the shortest answer and end the conversation quickly.
ROFLMAO!!!
Stop!
We are the one's doing the laughing.
Points for eloquence, but how can you be sure? This pic looks like you might be rather uncomfortable:
Don't forget the detergent in the mouth as well!
"So "Festivus" is an annual gripe session with a metal pole in the middle. Did I miss anything?"
Sounds like an evil plot by Alcoa. No?
You are right that it's not a club. You are wrong about the other part.
Christmas is a religious celebration. If you don't believe, you are just pretending. An observer. And that includes all the "secular Christians".
Why explain? Just tell people you don't decorate.
"Lighten up and live a little."
Tip for the day: I't's a sit-com.
Mr. Mithras, Please present your solid, rational and logical proofs that Christmas (The celebration of the birth of Jesus) is fictional.
Too many people with too much time on their hands.
Exactly.
I haven't been myself lately. I've been snapping at everybody.
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