Happy Festivus!

December 23rd, 2011 - 9:28 pm ICT by Aishwarya Bhatt  

New York, Dec 23 (THAINDIAN NEWS) When writer Dan O’Keefe introduced the circular holiday Festivus in 1966, little did he know that it will grow to be a popular culture. His son Daniel is credited with promoting the day through the television show “Seinfeld.”

The day is recognized by section of the US public who prefer to call it “a Festivus for the rest of us.” That phrase is a direct quotation in the Seinfeld. Looking back at the history of the celebration, the first Festivus took place in February. It is not clear why the 23rd of December has now become the new date for the celebration of the event.

In an earlier interview, O’Keefe admitted that he never planned the name saying it “just popped into my head.”

Festivus is not your regular kind of holiday celebration. The day is more observed than celebrated in the literal sense. Several practices are performed on the day to mark the day. Some of the notable ones are the “Airing of Grievances” and the “Feats of Strength.”

During the “Airing of Grievances,” each family member is given the opportunity to discuss the wrongs that other family members did to them. The celebration ends with the “Feats of Strength” when the head of the family is pinned down during a wrestling contest.

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