History of Festivus in Timeline
Festivus, celebrated on December 23rd, offers a secular alternative to the commercialization of Christmas. Created by Daniel O'Keefe, it gained popularity through the 1997 Seinfeld episode "The Strike," co-written by O'Keefe's son, Dan. The holiday's traditions, as depicted in the episode, include an unadorned aluminum pole (in place of a traditional Christmas tree), the "Airing of Grievances," where participants voice their complaints, and "Feats of Strength," involving wrestling the head of the household. While originating in the O'Keefe family long before Seinfeld, the show's portrayal cemented Festivus in pop culture, leading to its wider observance as a humorous, non-commercial holiday alternative.
1966: Festivus Inception
Festivus was first celebrated by the O'Keefe family in 1966.
1976: Origin of "A Festivus for the rest of us"
In 1976, the phrase "a Festivus for the rest of us" was coined by Daniel O'Keefe, originally referring to those remaining after his mother's death.
1982: Stolen Lightning Publication
Daniel O'Keefe published "Stolen Lightning: The Social Theory of Magic" in 1982, exploring themes relevant to Festivus tradition.
December 18, 1997: "The Strike" Airs
The Seinfeld episode "The Strike," featuring Festivus, aired on December 18, 1997.
1997: Festivus on Seinfeld
In 1997, Festivus gained popularity after being featured in the Seinfeld episode "The Strike".
1997: Festivus Traditions Expand
The traditions of Festivus expanded in 1997 with the airing of "The Strike".
2000: Baltimore Ravens and Festivus
During their 2000 Super Bowl run, the Baltimore Ravens used "Festivus" and "Festivus Maximus" as code words for "playoffs" and "Super Bowl."
2005: Festivus: The Holiday for the Rest of Us Published
Allen Salkin's book "Festivus: The Holiday for the Rest of Us" was published in 2005.
2005: The Real Festivus Published
Dan O'Keefe published "The Real Festivus" in 2005, providing an account of the original O'Keefe family tradition.
2005: Pittsburgh Festivus Celebration Begins
The first annual public Festivus celebration was held in Pittsburgh in 2005.
2005: Wisconsin Governor Festivus
Wisconsin governor Jim Doyle displayed a Festivus pole in 2005, which is now in the Wisconsin Historical Museum.
2010: Festivus on the Rise
In 2010, Festivus gained attention through a CNN story, a congressional fundraiser, and trending on Twitter.
2012: A Kosher Christmas Published
Festivus is referenced in Rabbi Joshua Eli Plaut's 2012 book, "A Kosher Christmas: 'Tis the Season to Be Jewish.".
2012: Google Festivus Easter Egg
Google added a Festivus-themed Easter egg to its search results in 2012, featuring an aluminum pole and the phrase "A festivus miracle!".
2013: Festivus Pole Protest
Chaz Stevens started displaying Festivus poles next to religious displays in government buildings in 2013 to advocate for the separation of church and state.
2013: CNN Festivus Segment
In 2013, a CNN segment explored the origins of Festivus, revealing details about the real-life traditions.
2014: Festivus Pole Protest Continues
Chaz Stevens continued to display a Festivus pole in protest in 2014.
2015: Pride Festivus Pole
In 2015, Chaz Stevens displayed Festivus poles with a pride theme in multiple state capitols to celebrate the Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage.
2016: Senator Paul and Festivus
Senator Rand Paul began an annual tradition of "airing of grievances" on Twitter in 2016. The Tampa Bay Times also started publishing Festivus grievances.
2017: Pittsburgh Festivus Continues
In 2017, the Pittsburgh City Paper celebrated the 13th year of their Festivus celebration.
2018: Festivus Lane in Australia
Wollongong City Council in Australia named a lane "Festivus Lane" in 2018.
2020: The Festivus Haggadah Published
Martin Bodek's book "The Festivus Haggadah" was published in 2020, blending Passover with Festivus traditions.
2021: Big E Wears Festivus-Themed Singlets
In 2021, WWE wrestler Big E began sporting Festivus-themed singlets during his on-air appearances, featuring catchphrases and imagery from the Seinfeld version of the holiday.
2021: #FestivusSavesTrees Campaign
In 2021, a social media campaign called #FestivusSavesTrees promoted an environmental message associated with Festivus.
2022: Seinfeld Promotes Festivus Petition
In 2022, the official Seinfeld social media accounts launched a petition on Change.org to declare Festivus a national holiday on December 23rd. They promoted the hashtag #MakeFestivusOfficial and argued that Festivus deserved the same recognition as other unofficial holidays.