What is Festivus? Syracuse alum helped popularize holiday on ‘Seinfeld’

Happy Festivus! The tradition begins with the airing of grievances… but first, what is Festivus, exactly?

Festivus is a non-religious holiday, started by Daniel O’Keefe in 1966 and popularized by “Seinfeld” in a 1997 episode written by his son, Dan O’Keefe. Celebrated every Dec. 23, it aims to protest the commercialism of Christmas, instead celebrating the season with an undecorated aluminum pole (instead of a tree or Menorah), the “feats of strength” (a wrestling match) and the “airing of grievances” (an opportunity to complain about anything and everything).

“A Festivus for the rest of us!” late Syracuse University alumnus Jerry Stiller said as George Costanza’s father Frank in the famous episode.

Frank Costanza hilariously details the holiday, complaining about how tinsel is distracting and says ordinary, everyday events are eligible to be called “Festivus miracles.”

“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!” he explained.

The episode, titled “The Strike,” also followed Kramer’s (Michael Richards) years-long strike at H&H Bagels, Jerry’s (Jerry Seinfeld) experience with a “two-face” (a woman who looks good in certain lighting and bad in others) and George’s (Jason Alexander) attempt to skimp on holiday gifts by donating to the “Human Fund.” But most notably, “The Strike” made Festivus internationally known as George brought his boss Mr. Kruger (Daniel von Bargen) home to celebrate the holiday with his parents.

“I’ve got a lot of problems with you people!” Stiller’s character tells his guests.

Kramer quickly embraced the holiday, but abandons it towards the end of the episode when Frank invites him to wrestle in the feats of strength: “Frank, no offense, but this holiday is a little out there.”

Dan O’Keefe reportedly said his father included those same traditions in real life. Some kookier ones didn’t make it on the TV show, though, including putting a clock in a bag and nailing it to a wall.

It’s unclear how many people observe Festivus, but every December 23, social media is flooded with people “celebrating” Festivus with memes and jokes. Some go all in on the holiday, actually buying Festivus poles (or making their own) and serving foods associated with the show. The Costanzas ate meatloaf on the Festivus episode, but fans may choose other episode eats like poppyseed bagels or black and white cookies.

Senator Rand Paul has observed Festivus annually, and aired his grievances about government waste Tuesday night: “I got a lotta problems with federal spending, and now you’re gonna hear about it!”

Stiller, who died in May of natural causes at age 92, graduated from Syracuse University in 1950 and was honored with a star on the Syracuse Walk of Stars outside the Landmark Theatre. Besides being the face of Festivus, his credits included “The King of Queens,” “The Taking of Pelham One Two Three,” “Hairspray,” “The Ed Sullivan Show,” and many of his son Ben Stiller’s works, including “Dodgeball,” “There’s Soemthing About Mary,” “Meet the Parents,” and “Zoolander.”

“Seinfeld” is available to stream on Hulu.

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