Watch CBS News

Many Still Celebrate Holiday Made Popular By Seinfeld 15 Years Ago

By Tim Jimenez

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Fifteen years ago an obscure holiday made its way to American popular culture and is still celebrated by some today.

December 23rd is two days before Christmas, but thanks to the show Seinfeld, "a new holiday was born. A Festivus for the rest of us!"

Festivus was popularized by a 1997 Seinfeld episode. In it, Frank Costanza says he was tired of the commercialization of Christmas. And today, it's a holiday that continues to grow says Festivusweb.com creator Mark Nelson.

"Something about the Seinfeldism where people will still talk about the things they saw on Seinfeld, around the water cooler, even 15 years later," says Nelson.

How to celebrate Festivus: Friends and family don't gather around the tree but an aluminum pole.

"[It] requires no decoration. I find tinsel distracting," says Frank Costanza.

Then is the airing of grievances.

"You tell your friends and family all the ways they've disappointed you in the past year," Nelson explains.

And finally, the feats of strength, "where the head of the household had to be pinned; so basically a wrestling match," he explains.

Nelson says Festivus isn't meant to replace Christmas, but it's a fun addition to the season, especially for Seinfeld fans.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.