Festivus

Festivus is no longer just a joke holiday; it grows more popular each year, with people across the United States (and beyond) joining in the celebrations.

History

Festivus offers a budget-friendly alternative to the season’s expenses—no need to worry about gift lists or holiday bills. Feeling the pressure of societal expectations? Embrace the Festivus spirit instead!
The holiday was created by writer Daniel O’Keefe and popularized by his son Dan on the “Seinfeld” episode “The Strike,” which first aired in 1997. In 2005, Dan O’Keefe published a book dedicated entirely to Festivus traditions.

Interesting Facts

• Festivus began as a celebration of Daniel O’Keefe’s first date with his future wife.
• The O’Keefe family marked Festivus annually from 1966, always serving turkey and ham.
• The core ritual—the “Airing of Grievances”—encourages family members to share their disappointments from the past year.
• Dan O’Keefe hesitated to include Festivus in “Seinfeld,” but now it’s become iconic.
• The episode’s writers later joked they should have named it something else.

How to Take Part

Celebrate Festivus by watching “The Strike” episode of Seinfeld, or revisit your favorite scenes. Then recreate Festivus traditions with friends or family:

• Set up an unadorned aluminum pole as your Festivus symbol.
• Hold an “Airing of Grievances,” where everyone shares complaints from the past year.
• Perform “Feats of Strength” by wrestling the head of the household.

Feel free to invent new customs—write them down and share them on social media to spread the fun.

When is Festivus in 2025?

Festivus is observed on December 23 each year.

Observations