We’ve got a lot of problems with people who don’t think Festivus is a real holiday.
And now you’re gonna hear about it.
A “Seinfeld”-themed holiday that Jason Alexander’s George Costanza can attest is “all too real” comes every Dec. 23, when fans of the iconic sitcom remember the classic 1997 episode “The Strike.”
The bizarre holiday involving an airing of grievances and feats of strength was invented on the show by Frank Costanza, George’s dad, played by late comedy legend Jerry Stiller.
“It’s a Festivus for the rest of us!” Frank Costanza declares.
Here’s what to know about the secular holiday.
What is the meaning of Dec. 23 on ‘Seinfeld’?
As a card sent to him by his father reminded George in the 1997 episode, Festivus comes every Dec. 23.
In real life, it was invented by the father of former “Seinfeld” writer Dan O’Keefe in 1966. O’Keefe incorporated it into the show when he wrote “The Strike” episode.
Festivus is “a peculiar celebration unique to our peculiar family,” O’Keefe told TODAY in 2016.
“Was I surprised that actual human people adopted a weird TV holiday based on a crazy family tradition that bordered on child endangerment?” O’Keefe joked. “That would be ‘yes.’ As to why this occurred, I believe the answer is clear: it is a sign that the End of Days is upon us.”
As Frank details to Kramer in the classic episode, the no-frills holiday was created as a reaction to the commercialization of Christmas. It was born when Frank said he was battling another man for a coveted doll for young George around Christmastime.
“As I rained blows upon him, I realized there had to be another way,” Frank says. “(The doll) was destroyed, but out of that a new holiday was born. A Festivus for the rest of us!”
George was scarred by celebrations of the holiday as a child.
“It’s nothing! It’s a stupid holiday my father invented. It doesn’t exist!” he shouts to Jerry and Elaine early in the episode.
How to celebrate Festivus on Dec. 23
