“a holiday... for the rest of us”

“Festivus Yes!... Bagels No!”

Festivus is a fictional holiday created by Frank Costanza (played by Jerry Stiller) on the popular television comedy Seinfeld. Some fans of the show now celebrate this fictional holiday in real life.

Festivus is a holiday held on 23 December of each year. It was created as a response to the commercialism of the other December holidays.

Its slogan is “Festivus, a holiday for the rest of us”.  Listen to Frank's explanation of the origins of Festivus...

The Genesis of Festivus

Frank: Many Christmases ago, I went to buy a doll for my son. I reached for the last one they had, but so did another man. As I rained blows upon him, I realized there had to be another way.

Kramer: What happened to the doll?

Frank: It was destroyed. But out of that a new holiday was born . . . a Festivus for the rest of us!

Kramer: That must've been some doll.

Frank: She was!

The Festivus celebration includes these major components...

• The Festivus Pole

• The Festivus Song

• The Feast

• The Airing of Grievances

• The Airing of Grievances form

• The Feats of Strength

• The Human Fund

• The Human Fund Donor Cards

• The Festivus Fruitcake

• Ice Cream for the Fruit Cake

• icon for sound bite listings

Festivals of Light