Festivus Buzz
Dec. 10th, 2007 12:08 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ciroccojDunno why, but this struck a funnybone with me :)
By Ryan Maloney
First, we air our grievances. Then, the feats of strength. Gather 'round the pole, kids, it's time for Festivus.
In a week chock-full of holiday-related searches, with Canadians busily on the prowl for everything from tidbits on caring for a live Christmas tree (up in 1037% this week) to the lyrics to holiday classics (Adam Sandler's Hanukkah song was a breakout search subject for the week), we here at Yahoo! couldn't help but delight at the peaks for both Festivus and the Festivus pole, another breakout this week.
Not familiar with Festivus, you say? Blasphemy! Get thee to some Seinfeld DVDs, tout suite!
But because we've got the warm-and-fuzzies this time of year* and maybe one too many rips of nog, we'll provide a refresher. The legend goes a little something like this.
Many moons ago, Frank, the plucky patriarch of the Costanza family, found himself engaged in fisticuffs in a department store over a doll he had to buy for his boy, George. And as Frank rained down blows on another super-stressed Dad, he realized: "There had to be a better way!" Festivus was born that very day, my friends.
A non-denominational, anti-corporate and no frills way to toast the season and share with loved ones the speckled ways they disappoint you, Festivus is actually the brainchild of Readers Digest writer Dan 0'Keefe. It was his scriptwriter son, Daniel, who channelled repressed family memories and turned them into a fan-favourite Seinfeld episode in 1997.
So, for all those interested in partaking in the fun on December 23 - the official Festivus date - here's the meat and potatos of what you'll need.
First, an aluminum pole in lieu of a tree - but don't dare dream of decorating it.** Remember, Festivus is all about keeping things simple and, as Frank would say, "tinsel's distracting."
Second, a stiff upper lip. As mentioned, the airing of grievances is an essential part of the celebration so be prepared to suffer through hours of stories about the various ways you've let people down all year.***
Third, plenty of room in your living room. Why? Well, just like any party worth going to, the Festivus celebration cannot end until the host has been pinned to the ground. So, be sure to carb up and dig down deep, else it's going to be a long night.****
And what of the traditionalists who don't want their holiday celebration to end in Grecco-Roman wrestling and tears? Well, there's always Hannukah - celebrated this week - and Christmas and Kwanzaa just around the corner.
Either way you slice it, Canadians are in full-time, throw-down, get-loose party mode. So to you and yours, we wish a happy Hannukah, a kicking Kwanzaa, a merry Christmas.
And Festivus... for the rest of us.
* Ed. note: Our hearts have literally grown three sizes!
** Ed. note: Alliteration -- the gift that keeps on giving.
** Ed. note: We Yahoo! editors don't need a holiday to discuss the many ways we disappoint each other.
*** Ed. note: We Yahoo! editors don't need an excuse to wrestle, either.
Link to the article: http://ca.blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-rnIaCAEzbryqe7W2AYVmtBzQoCtUm72gxQ--?cq=1&p=613
By Ryan Maloney
First, we air our grievances. Then, the feats of strength. Gather 'round the pole, kids, it's time for Festivus.
In a week chock-full of holiday-related searches, with Canadians busily on the prowl for everything from tidbits on caring for a live Christmas tree (up in 1037% this week) to the lyrics to holiday classics (Adam Sandler's Hanukkah song was a breakout search subject for the week), we here at Yahoo! couldn't help but delight at the peaks for both Festivus and the Festivus pole, another breakout this week.
Not familiar with Festivus, you say? Blasphemy! Get thee to some Seinfeld DVDs, tout suite!
But because we've got the warm-and-fuzzies this time of year* and maybe one too many rips of nog, we'll provide a refresher. The legend goes a little something like this.
Many moons ago, Frank, the plucky patriarch of the Costanza family, found himself engaged in fisticuffs in a department store over a doll he had to buy for his boy, George. And as Frank rained down blows on another super-stressed Dad, he realized: "There had to be a better way!" Festivus was born that very day, my friends.
A non-denominational, anti-corporate and no frills way to toast the season and share with loved ones the speckled ways they disappoint you, Festivus is actually the brainchild of Readers Digest writer Dan 0'Keefe. It was his scriptwriter son, Daniel, who channelled repressed family memories and turned them into a fan-favourite Seinfeld episode in 1997.
So, for all those interested in partaking in the fun on December 23 - the official Festivus date - here's the meat and potatos of what you'll need.
First, an aluminum pole in lieu of a tree - but don't dare dream of decorating it.** Remember, Festivus is all about keeping things simple and, as Frank would say, "tinsel's distracting."
Second, a stiff upper lip. As mentioned, the airing of grievances is an essential part of the celebration so be prepared to suffer through hours of stories about the various ways you've let people down all year.***
Third, plenty of room in your living room. Why? Well, just like any party worth going to, the Festivus celebration cannot end until the host has been pinned to the ground. So, be sure to carb up and dig down deep, else it's going to be a long night.****
And what of the traditionalists who don't want their holiday celebration to end in Grecco-Roman wrestling and tears? Well, there's always Hannukah - celebrated this week - and Christmas and Kwanzaa just around the corner.
Either way you slice it, Canadians are in full-time, throw-down, get-loose party mode. So to you and yours, we wish a happy Hannukah, a kicking Kwanzaa, a merry Christmas.
And Festivus... for the rest of us.
* Ed. note: Our hearts have literally grown three sizes!
** Ed. note: Alliteration -- the gift that keeps on giving.
** Ed. note: We Yahoo! editors don't need a holiday to discuss the many ways we disappoint each other.
*** Ed. note: We Yahoo! editors don't need an excuse to wrestle, either.
Link to the article: http://ca.blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-rnIaCAEzbryqe7W2AYVmtBzQoCtUm72gxQ--?cq=1&p=613
