The Real Festivus: The True Story Behind America's Favorite Made-up Holiday

It's beginning to look a lot like Festivus!

From the Seinfeld writer and co-creator of the holiday that's becoming a world-wide cult phenomenon.

Beginning on December 23rd and ending sometime in May (if revelers are still into it), Festivus is becoming one of America's most revered secular-if peculiar-holidays. Since making its public debut in 1997 on Seinfeld, Festivus is finally fully explained in the definitive guide to its bare-bones celebration of second-rate miracles and hopeless regrets.

Discover the Festivus traditions:

Gather Round the Festivus Pole: A latter-day addition to festivus celebrations, traditionally a simple aluminum pole. While tinsel is strictly forbidden, non-threatening decorations are permitted within reason.

The Airing of Grievances: At the Festivus dinner table (spaghetti, meatloaf, whatever) participants inform family and friends of the ways in which they've been a disappointment.

The Feats of Strength: Customarily Festivus is over when the head of the family is wrestled to the ground and pinned. (Either participant may decline if they have something better to do.) Conceivably this whole thing could be stretched out until sometime in May.