HAPPY FESTIVUS TO ALL, and to all a good afternoon!
NordP
Posted on 12/23/2005 10:18:59 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
('Seinfeld' holiday has a highly placed fan)
For "Seinfeld" fans, today is Festivus, the holiday "for the rest of us."
The once-fictitious holiday created by George Costanza has spun off into a grass-roots celebration of its own, complete with a best-selling book of Festivus lore and an official Festivus Pole manufactured by a Milwaukee-based firm.
But who would have known that its observers include Gov. Jim Doyle, or that he is arguably Wisconsin's best-known "Seinfeld" fan?
Doyle has placed a Festivus Pole - the unadorned aluminum pole "known for its very high strength-to-weight ratio" - among the other holiday paraphernalia at the governor's mansion.
"I assume we'll be celebrating the traditional Festivus," Doyle deadpanned in an interview on Festivus Eve.
"We'll have to have a meal, followed by Airing of the Grievances, and then the Feats of Strength."
On the show, which first aired in 1997, George Costanza's father, Frank, says that he created the holiday after fighting with another man over a doll for one of his children.
"As I rained blows upon him, I realized there had to be another way," Frank explained, adding that from the experience came Festivus, the holiday "for the rest of us."
According to tradition, as well as to Allen Salkin's book, "Festivus: The Holiday for the Rest of Us," the occasion is celebrated with a dinner of comfort foods, followed by the Airing of Grievances.
The holiday does not end until the Feats of Strength are completed, and specifically, the head of the family is pinned to the ground by another member.
Doyle said he believes the holiday has become popular because "the show is getting at some universal human qualities.
"How many of us have sat around holiday dinners, and in a nice and kind and polite way, seen the grievances aired from years ago between brothers and sisters?" he said.
Doyle wouldn't say who he hopes will participate in the feats of strength tonight, "but it has to be somebody who I can win against."
He noted that in the original "Seinfeld" episode, "we never knew what happened" in the final bout.
"We only knew that George's mother shouted out, 'You can take him, Georgie!' and then the show ended," he said.
The governor's official Festivus Pole is the creation of the Wagner Companies, a Milwaukee-based firm that makes aluminum railings and stair supports.
Tony Leto, vice president of sales and marketing, said the company's president, Robert Wagner, gave the pole to Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton, who in turn gave it to Doyle's office. Both Wagner and Lawton are members of the state Arts Board.
"We're delighted that the governor likes it," Leto said in an interview Thursday.
He added that the company has sold more than 200 poles through its Web site, festivuspoles.com, and that business was running near fever pitch on Thursday, with last-minute shoppers desperate to get their poles on time.
The company notes that the poles are made in Milwaukee, "a city known for its high strength-to-weight ratio."
Doyle said he is so pleased with the pole that he may have to buy it back from the state, which owns all official gifts, "so we can permanently have a Festivus Pole."
Does that mean he thinks it's time for a Festivus Pole in the Capitol?
"With all the debate over Christmas, I don't think we're really ready for that," he said. "Although I will say there's a lot of airing of grievances that goes on down there."
But does he really think this is a true holiday? Now that's disturbing when you can't tell the difference between reality and a TV show. But then, he is a Democrat, LOL!
Festivus Ping!
Festivus isn't over until you pin me!
HAPPY FESTIVUS TO ALL, and to all a good afternoon!
NordP
6 foot floor model: $38 plus shipping 2 foot 8 inch table top model: $30 plus shipping Also available with a copy of Allen Salkin's hilarious book, Festivus, A Holiday For The Rest of Us. Festivus Pole: Aluminum, Extruded Alloy 6063-T6 Finish: Mill, As Fabricated (see note below) 1-1/2" Schedule 40 Pipe Size (1.900" diameter with a .140" wall) Festivus Base: Aluminum, Alloy 3003 .190" Thickness Collapsable For Easy Storage
The Festivus Pole
The tradition begins with a bare aluminum pole, which Frank praises for its "very high strength-to-weight ratio." During Festivus, an unadorned aluminum pole is displayed, apparently in opposition to the commercialization of highly decorated Christmas trees, and because the holiday's creator, Frank Costanza, "find[s] tinsel distracting." Local customs vary and you may be able to decorate your pole with non-threatening plain decorations, or ordinary green garland.
The Airing of Grievances
At the Festivus dinner, each participant tells friends and family all of the instances where they disappointed him or her that year.
The Feats of Strength
The head of the family tests his or her strength against one participant of the head's choosing. Festivus is not considered over until the head of the family has been pinned to the ground. A participant is allowed to decline to attempt to pin the head of the family only if they have something better to do instead.
It's a Festivus miracle!
After 1995 or so the show really went downhill, was not as funny, and the plots became contrived and silly, IMHO. Not to mention the characters became unbearably obnoxious and stupid. So this is one episode I never cared for.
"I have a problem with you people!
Never watched the show till it came out on reruns....getting up at 4:30 each AM precluded me from watching it at the ungodly hour of 9PM.
I really dont know one year class of Seinfeld from another, but I know what your saying about obnoxious..there are some I cant take.....its just that the ones that are really good are really good. I did love the festivus one.
I'll take Festivus over Kwanza any day.
And, of course, this was included as a reminder: 
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