Is 'Festivus' real? Discover the truth behind the pop culture holiday made famous by 'Seinfeld'

Before Christmas comes "Festivus." For those wondering what this is all about, it’s time to take a trip down memory lane and recall the iconic 90s sitcom "Seinfeld." The show, which began in 1989 and ran for nine seasons until May 14, 1998, introduced the idea of Festivus in the 1997 episode "The Strike." In that episode, Jerry Stiller’s character, Frank Costanza, invents Festivus as an alternative to Christmas.

Since then, people worldwide have recognized December 23 as "Festivus," which has gained further popularity among pop culture fans. However, the question remains: Is it an official holiday? While "Festivus" has not been recognized as an official holiday by the government, in 2022, fan accounts of "Seinfeld" on social media filed a petition on Change.org to have it declared a national holiday.

In addition, they launched an online campaign using the hashtag "#MakeFestivusOfficial." Devoted fans argued that "Festivus" deserved the same recognition as other unofficial holidays, such as "National Bagel Day," "Boss's Day" and "Hug a Musician Day." However, their efforts were unsuccessful. Still, the fans remained determined to keep the "Festivus" tradition alive on the internet.

Originally, Festivus was born into the household of "Seinfeld" writer Dan O'Keefe with its roots dating back to 1966. O'Keefe told The Daily Beast on their "Fever Dreams" podcast that iit was his father, Daniel O'Keefe, a Reader's Digest editor, who first coined the term and created the unique holiday. Daniel O'Keefe passed away in 2012.

He recalled, "I mean this in the nicest way possible: My father was an undiagnosed bipolar, severe alcoholic who nonetheless was extremely high-functioning. [He] came from an extremely working-class background, which he was constantly trying to make sure no one knew about—and in so doing, he reminded everyone of it constantly." O'Keefe further explained that at one point, his father mentioned that the day also marked the anniversary of the first time he met his wife (O'Keefe's mother). But he also noted, "He [father] said a lot of crazy s**t so who knows?"

Nonetheless, it was more of a family tradition for O'Keefe while growing up. "It was a holiday that was unique to our family. That was ostensibly a strength. And it didn't have a set date [and] in real life it could just happen whenever the f**k he felt like it, or was extremely hungover and wanted to jump-start his synapses. In one year, there were two for some reason; in one year, there were none. You never knew when [Festivus] was coming," he shared.

Among the most famous traditions associated with "Festivus," include the "Airing of Grievances" and "Feats of Strength," which have existed since the time of its inception. However, O'Keefe once told CNN in a 2013 interview about a lesser-known tradition that didn't make it to the show. Apparently, O'Kefee's father used to put a clock in a bag and nail it on a wall. 

"The real symbol of the holiday was a clock that my dad put in a bag and nailed to the wall every year... I don't know why. I don't know what it means, he would never tell me. He would always say, 'That's not for you to know,'" the writer shared. Though the concept eventually became a pop culture phenomenon, O'Keefe was initially hesitant to add it to the show's screenplay. His colleagues, however, talked him through it and convinced him.