It's a Festivus Miracle [ascerbic humor]

Stand Firm ^ | 12/23/2004 | unk

[sionnsar]

In a classic episode of Seinfeld, George Costanza is distressed to learn that his father is reviving his ersatz Christmastime holiday "Festivus," the central events of which are the Airing of Grievances and the Feats of Strength.

Now The New York Times reports that Festivus is actually catching on in some circles:

To postulate grandly, the rise of Festivus, a bare-bones affair in which even tinsel is forbidden, may mean that Americans are fed up with the commercialism of the December holidays and are yearning for something simpler. Or it could be that Festivus is the perfect secular theme for an all-inclusive December gathering (even better than Chrismukkah, popularized by the television show "The O.C."). Or maybe, postulating smally, it's just irresistibly silly.

Reached for comment*, retired Episcopal bishop John Shelby Spong remarked, "It is heartening to see Americans finally embracing a winter holiday in which Christ plays no part. We've been encouraging this for years in the Diocese of Newark. With the help of Pennsylvania pagans, we're rescuing Christmas from the fundamentalists, and I for one couldn't be happier."

Continued...

[sionnsar]

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[Awestruck]

While I can appreciate the humour of this piece, I've always found it odd that Americans say they hate the commercialism of Christmas, yet they are the ones who have readily bought into it and fed the monster. We keep talking about "the reason for the season" and yet we feel compelled to trade gifts with bare acquaintances so we don't seem cheap.

[torqemada]

I prefer my acquaintences fully clothed ;-D

Merry Christmas one & all. May God richly bless you, today & in the New Year.

[Awestruck]

LOL! Thanks for the holiday laugh! The same best wishes for you and yours.

[hummingbird]

The Festivus Holiday on Seinfeld is funny; thanks for posting this as it came up at our Christmas gathering last night & provided much humor...or, was it the "special eggnog" that provided much humor?! Hmmmmmmmmmm..........LOL!

Man, you can always count on Spong to make an irritating comment....IMHO!

[sionnsar]

The Spong comment was, um, "invented." ;-)

[hummingbird]

The Spong comment was, um, "invented." ;-)

"Ooops, my bad." Guess I should pay more attention to those hints...it just sounds so much like something Spong would say!

Have a Merry Christmas (for sure) and a Happy Festivus (if you are inclined)!