According to 鈥Seinfeld鈥 lore, Festivus celebrates the noncommercial and the secular. It is to be observed on Dec. 23, and it includes an 鈥渁iring of grievances鈥 session at the dinner table. It provides an occasion for relatives to vent about their disappointments with one another. After dinner it鈥檚 time for 鈥渇eats of strength,鈥 a contest in which family members challenge the head of the household to a wrestling match. The celebration ends when the latter is pinned.
Festivus is actually celebrated (鈥渙bserved鈥 may be a more accurate word) by some people. In place of a Christmas tree, the observant fashion an aluminum Festivus pole (no troublesome decorations required). It has also become a tag for December holidays other than Christmas.