It’s a Festivus for the rest of us!

An unadorned aluminum pole, feats of strength & the airing of grievances make this holiday so entertaining one might think that it was manufactured specifically for this Seinfeld episode. But it wasn’t.

Festivus was conceived by author and editor Daniel O'Keefe, the father of TV writer of this Seinfeld episode, Dan O'Keefe as early as 1966.

According to the elder O'Keefe the name"just popped into my head". In the original O'Keefe tradition, the holiday would take place to celebrate the anniversary of Daniel O'Keefe's first date with his future wife, Deborah. The phrase "a Festivus for the rest of us" originally referred to those remaining after the death of the elder O'Keefe's mother, Jeanette, in 1976; i.e., the "rest of us" are the living, as opposed to the dead.

FESTIVUS POLE

In the episode, the tradition of Festivus begins with an aluminum pole. Frank Costanza cites its "very high strength-to-weight ratio" as appealing. During Festivus, the pole is displayed unadorned. According to Frank, "I find tinsel distracting."

AIRING OF GRIEVANCES

ThIS event takes place immediately after the Festivus dinner has been served. In the television episode, Frank Costanza began it with the phrase, "I got a lotta problems with you people, and now you're going to hear about it!" It consists of each person lashing out at others and the world about how they have been disappointed in the past year.

FEATS OF STRENGTH

The Feats of Strength are the final tradition observed in the celebration of Festivus The head of the household selects one person at the Festivus celebration and challenges them to a wrestling match. Tradition states Festivus is not over until the head of the household is pinned. In Seinfeld episode, however, Kramer manages to circumvent the rule by creating an excuse to leave. Failing to pin the head of the household results in Festivus continuing until such requirement is met.