History of Festivus in Timeline
Festivus is a secular holiday celebrated on December 23rd as an alternative to the commercialism of Christmas. Created by author Daniel O'Keefe, it gained widespread recognition after being featured in the 1997 Seinfeld episode "The Strike", co-written by O'Keefe's son, Dan O'Keefe. The holiday is known for its traditions, including an unadorned aluminum pole, the "Airing of Grievances" where participants voice their frustrations with others, "Feats of Strength" which usually involves wrestling, and the declaring of things as "Festivus miracles."
1966: First Festivus Celebration
In 1966, author Daniel O'Keefe celebrated the first Festivus with his family. The holiday commemorated the anniversary of Daniel O'Keefe's first date with his future wife, Deborah.
1976: "A Festivus for the Rest of Us" Origin
In 1976, after the death of Daniel O'Keefe's mother, Jeanette, the phrase "a Festivus for the rest of us" came to refer to those remaining alive.
1982: Publication of Stolen Lightning: The Social Theory of Magic
In 1982, Daniel O'Keefe wrote "Stolen Lightning: The Social Theory of Magic", a book exploring ritual and its societal relevance, which ties into the themes present in the Festivus tradition.
December 18, 1997: "The Strike" Episode Broadcast
On December 18, 1997, the Seinfeld episode "The Strike", featuring Festivus, first aired. The episode showcases Frank Costanza introducing the holiday to Cosmo Kramer as an alternative to the commercialism of Christmas.
1997: Festivus Featured in "The Strike" Seinfeld Episode
In 1997, Festivus gained widespread recognition after being featured in "The Strike" episode of Seinfeld, co-written by Dan O'Keefe, the son of Festivus creator Daniel O'Keefe. The episode brought the holiday to the attention of a mass audience, and it quickly became a part of popular culture.
1997: Expansion of Festivus Traditions
In 1997, the Festivus practices expanded to include the traditions introduced in the Seinfeld episode "The Strike", incorporating elements that resonated with a wider audience.
2000: Baltimore Ravens' "Festivus" Playoff Ban
In 2000, during the Baltimore Ravens' Super Bowl XXXV run, coach Brian Billick superstitiously banned the word "playoffs", referring to it as "Festivus" until the team clinched a postseason berth.
2005: Publication of Festivus: The Holiday for the Rest of Us
In 2005, Allen Salkin's book "Festivus: The Holiday for the Rest of Us" was published, chronicling the early adoption and celebration of Festivus by various individuals.
2005: Publication of The Real Festivus
In 2005, Dan O'Keefe, Daniel O'Keefe's son, published "The Real Festivus", detailing the O'Keefe family's original holiday traditions and his role in adapting them for the Seinfeld episode.
2005: Governor Doyle's Festivus Pole Display
In 2005, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle displayed a Festivus pole in the Executive Residence, later making it part of the Wisconsin Historical Museum's collection.
2005: Annual Pittsburgh Festivus Celebration Begins
In 2005, the annual public Festivus celebration began in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, featuring live bands, Seinfeld trivia, and holiday traditions.
2010: Increased Popularity and Festivus Fundraiser
In 2010, a CNN story highlighted the increasing popularity of Festivus, including US Representative Eric Cantor's Festivus fundraiser, and the holiday trended on Twitter.
2012: Google's Festivus Search Result Easter Egg
In 2012, Google introduced a custom search result for "Festivus", displaying an unadorned aluminum pole and the phrase "A festivus miracle!" in the search results.
2012: A Kosher Christmas: 'Tis the Season to Be Jewish' References Festivus
In 2012, Rabbi Joshua Eli Plaut's book, "A Kosher Christmas: 'Tis the Season to Be Jewish", makes reference to Festivus.
2012: Festivus Poles Erected on City and State Property
In 2012, a Festivus pole was erected on city property in Deerfield Beach, Florida, and another was displayed at the Wisconsin State Capitol alongside religious displays, advocating for separation of church and state.
2013: Beer Can Festivus Pole Protest
In 2013, Chaz Stevens erected a Festivus pole constructed with 6 ft (1.8 m) of beer cans next to religious holiday displays in the Florida State Capitol Building, as a protest supporting separation of church and state.
2013: CNN Segment on Festivus Origins
In 2013, a CNN segment featured Dan O'Keefe discussing the origins of Festivus and his father's unique traditions, such as using a clock in a bag nailed to a wall as a symbol of the holiday.
2014: Beer Can Festivus Pole Protest
In 2014, Chaz Stevens erected a Festivus pole constructed with 6 ft (1.8 m) of beer cans next to religious holiday displays in the Florida State Capitol Building, as a protest supporting separation of church and state.
2017: 13th Annual Pittsburgh Festivus Celebration
In 2017, the Pittsburgh City Paper highlighted the 13th annual Pittsburgh Festivus celebration, calling it "the longest-running celebration of Sein-Culture in the 'Burgh".
2018: "Festivus Lane" Named in Wollongong, Australia
In 2018, Wollongong City Council in New South Wales, Australia, named a lane "Festivus Lane" due to the local popularity of the annual Festivus celebration.
2020: The Festivus Haggadah Fuses Passover with Festivus
In 2020, Martin Bodek's book "The Festivus Haggadah" was released, which fuses Passover with Festivus.
2021: Big E's Festivus-Themed Wrestling Singlets
In 2021, WWE champion Big E began wearing custom-designed wrestling singlets featuring catchphrases and images of Seinfeld's Festivus.
2021: Environmental Campaign with #FestivusSavesTrees
In 2021, the Seinfeld social media accounts and One Tree Planted launched a campaign to plant trees for every selfie posted with a Festivus pole using #FestivusSavesTrees, promoting the environmental benefits of using a pole instead of a Christmas tree.
2022: Petition to Make Festivus a National Holiday
In 2022, the official Seinfeld social media accounts launched a change.org petition to make Festivus a national holiday on December 23, using the hashtag #MakeFestivusOfficial.
