The alternative holiday known as Festivus can be traced to the classic 1997 episode of "Seinfeld" called "The Strike."
Festivus 2023 is coming. The “fictional” holiday that entered culture 26 years ago via a classic “Seinfeld” episode returns in December, meaning it’s time for the Eighth Annual Tampa Bay Times Airing of Grievances.
It’s your chance to gripe and complain from anywhere in the world about ways you’ve been annoyed this year. Your most petty peeves about people, businesses, sports teams, your job, your pets — whatever — could be published in the Tampa Bay Times. Examples of past year’s funniest reader complaints are here, here and here. Submit yours through this form by Dec. 7.
If you’re not familiar with Festivus, Frank Costanza (the brilliant, late Jerry Stiller) hilariously explains the anti-consumerism holiday that people still celebrate in real life in Season 9, Episode 10, “The Strike,” available on on Netflix. It involves an unadorned metal pole instead of a tree (tinsel is “distracting”), feats of strength and the airing of grievances. Festivusweb.com has more info.
Seinfeld invented Festivus in 1997. People still celebrate it in 2023.
