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'Festivus' Gains Standing Across Country
WLTX-TV NEWS ^ | 12-21-2005

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."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; US: South Carolina
KEYWORDS: festivus; kwaanza; seinfeld; waronchristmas
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To: Cagey

Hey now. No one said anything about having to "embrace" those things.


81 posted on 12/21/2005 12:11:22 PM PST by CindyDawg (No festivus in the spell check. That settles that!)
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To: Cagey

This guy is more legit than Maulana Karenga
82 posted on 12/21/2005 12:12:12 PM PST by smith288 (Peace at all cost makes for tyranny free of charge...)
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To: Disambiguator
Festivus has more legitimacy than Kwanzaa.

Kinda like Mickey mouse has more legitimacy than Bugs Bunny.

83 posted on 12/21/2005 12:12:25 PM PST by Protagoras (Many people teach their children that Jesus is story character but Santa Claus is real.)
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To: RJL

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.


84 posted on 12/21/2005 12:12:36 PM PST by tertiary01 (Dems ..the party that repeats history's mistakes over and over and....)
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To: reagan_fanatic

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.


85 posted on 12/21/2005 12:13:12 PM PST by discostu (a time when families gather together, don't talk, and watch football... good times)
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To: MotleyGirl70

ROFLMAO!!!

Stop!


86 posted on 12/21/2005 12:13:14 PM PST by Cagey (Some men are Baptists, others Catholics, my father was an Oldsmobile man.)
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To: Anitius Severinus Boethius

We are the one's doing the laughing.


87 posted on 12/21/2005 12:15:17 PM PST by CindyDawg (No festivus in the spell check. That settles that!)
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To: Larry Lucido
"We don't all have an aluminum pole up our ass"

Points for eloquence, but how can you be sure? This pic looks like you might be rather uncomfortable:


88 posted on 12/21/2005 12:16:03 PM PST by Sam's Army ("Terrorism is a matter for the police" MurryMom 11/28/05)
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To: Spiff
LOVE IT!

Don't forget the detergent in the mouth as well!

89 posted on 12/21/2005 12:16:09 PM PST by frogjerk (LIBERALISM - Being miserable for no good reason)
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To: TChris

"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?


90 posted on 12/21/2005 12:16:31 PM PST by Pessimist
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To: MikeA
Christmas isn't an exclusive club for practicing Christians.

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".

91 posted on 12/21/2005 12:17:19 PM PST by Protagoras (Many people teach their children that Jesus is story character but Santa Claus is real.)
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To: discostu

Why explain? Just tell people you don't decorate.


92 posted on 12/21/2005 12:17:35 PM PST by CindyDawg (No festivus in the spell check. That settles that!)
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Comment #93 Removed by Moderator

To: Sam's Army
And, from your homepage:

"Lighten up and live a little."

Tip for the day: I't's a sit-com.

94 posted on 12/21/2005 12:18:44 PM PST by Cagey (Some men are Baptists, others Catholics, my father was an Oldsmobile man.)
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To: Cagey

95 posted on 12/21/2005 12:19:20 PM PST by maggief
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To: dawn53
I'm wearing mine ...
96 posted on 12/21/2005 12:20:18 PM PST by maggief
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To: orionblamblam

Mr. Mithras, Please present your solid, rational and logical proofs that Christmas (The celebration of the birth of Jesus) is fictional.


97 posted on 12/21/2005 12:20:36 PM PST by frogjerk (LIBERALISM - Being miserable for no good reason)
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To: Cagey
The term "Festivus" yields more than 20,000 Web sites in monthly Google searches

Too many people with too much time on their hands.

98 posted on 12/21/2005 12:20:58 PM PST by Aquinasfan (Isaiah 22:22, Rev 3:7, Mat 16:19)
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To: Cagey
"Tip for the day: I't's a sit-com."

Exactly.

99 posted on 12/21/2005 12:21:07 PM PST by Sam's Army ("Terrorism is a matter for the police" MurryMom 11/28/05)
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To: MotleyGirl70
Are you guys still master of your domain.

I haven't been myself lately. I've been snapping at everybody.

100 posted on 12/21/2005 12:22:15 PM PST by Cagey (Some men are Baptists, others Catholics, my father was an Oldsmobile man.)
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