Festivus is the brainchild of the famous American writer Daniel O'Keefe.
Observed on 23 December, Festivus is a secular substitute for the commercial holiday season. People greet each other "Happy Festivus" and the tagline of the Holiday is "A Festivus for the Rest of Us."
Dan O'Keefe introduced happy Festivus as a concept in the 1997 season of 'Seinfeld' in the episode called 'The Strike'. The Festivus quotes presented here are extracts from the same episode.
The celebration of Festivus features the Festivus Dinner, the undecorated aluminum pole (a replacement for Christmas Tree), Airing of Grievances (where members describe how they were disappointed in others instead of thanking everyone), followed by the Feats of Strength.
Among the Festivus quotes, "I got a lot of problems" became popular in the context of the airing of grievances. People celebrate Festivus as a getaway from the traditional cheery yet chaotic holiday season of Christmas. These Festivus quotes are lighter in note. A very serious subject is dealt with in a lively manner in these Festivus quotes. In one of the Festivus quotes below, we can see how Festivus came into existence.
'Seinfeld' was a famous American sitcom that ran successfully for 19 years. 'Seinfeld' introduced us to the term "Festivus" holiday in its ninth and final season. These witty encounters leave an indelible mark on the reader's and viewer's minds alike.
1."Frank: It's made from aluminum. Very high strength to weight ratio.
Kruger: I find your belief system fascinating."
-'The Strike.'
2."Jerry: Happy Festivus.
Kramer: What's Festivus?
Jerry: When George was growing up his father...
George: Stop it. It's nothing. It's a stupid holiday my father invented. It doesn't exist."
-'The Strike.'
3."Frank: And at the Festivus dinner, you gather your family around, and you tell them all the ways they have disappointed you over the past year.
Kramer: Is there a tree?
Frank: No. Instead, there's a pole. Requires no decoration. I find tinsel distracting."
-'The Strike.'
Frank Costanza Festivus Quotes
Frank Costanza's character gave us the famous quote, "Festivus for the rest of us." Though Frank Costanza's character is a minor one, he added additional wit and more essence to the series. We present here a few gems from the memorable dramatis personae.
4."Frank: Many Christmases ago, I went to buy a doll for my son. I reached for the last one they had, but so did another man. As I rained blows upon him, I realized there had to be another way.
Kramer: What happened to the doll?
Frank: It was destroyed. But out of that, a new holiday was born. A Festivus for the rest of us.
Kramer: That must have been some kind of doll.
Frank: She was."
-'The Strike.'
5."Welcome, newcomers. The tradition of Festivus begins with the airing of grievances. I got a lot of problems with you people and now you're gonna hear about it."
-Frank in 'The Strike.'
6."George: Happy Festivus.
Frank: George. This is a surprise. Who's the suit?
George: Dad, this is my boss Mr. Kruger.
Frank: Have you seen the pole Kooger?
George: No, he doesn't need to see the pole.
Frank: He's gonna see it."
-'The Strike.'
7."Estelle Constanza: I think you can take him, Georgie!
George Costanza: Oh, come on! Be sensible.
Frank Costanza: Stop crying and fight your father!
George Costanza: Ow!... Ow! I give! I give! Uncle!
Frank Costanza: This is the best Festivus ever!"
-'The Strike.'
The Spirit Of Festivus For The Rest Of Us
For the rest of us, Festivus refers to the holiday being celebrated by people who are not dazed by the frivolities of the grandeur of the Christmas season. It's a Happy Festivus for all. To celebrate Festivus means that you are not for the commercialization of festivals. What you believe is to celebrate just the spirit of the festival. So, here's to a happy Festivus!
8."George: Hey, check this out. I gotta give out Christmas presents to everyone down at Kruger, so I'm pulling a Whatley. [hands a Christmas card to Jerry]
Jerry: A donation has been made in your name to the Human Fund. What is that?
George: Made it up."
-'The Strike.'
9."Cosmo Kramer: Ah, listen, Harry, I need the 23rd off.
Harry: Hey! I hired you to work during the holidays. This is the holidays.
Cosmo Kramer: But it's Festivus.
Harry: What?
Cosmo Kramer: You know you're infringing on my right to celebrate new holidays."
-'The Strike.'
10."George Costanza: Festivus, Sir. And, uh, I was afraid that I would be persecuted for my beliefs. They drove my family out of Bayside, Sir!
Kruger: Are you making all this up, too?
George Costanza: Oh, no, Sir. Festivus is all too real. And... I could prove it - if I had to."
-'The Strike.'
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly quotesfor everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Best Festivus Quotes For The Alternative December Holiday, then why not take a look at Christmas Movie Quotes, or George Costanza Quotes.
Main image credit: Roger Utting / Shutterstock.com
We Want Your Photos!
Do you have a photo you are happy to share that would improve this article?
With an MBA under her belt, Deepthi has discovered her true calling in content writing. Her writing repertoire is diverse, covering travel, movies, pet care, parenting, animals and birds, and more. Her joy of learning and creating has helped her craft well-written and engaging articles. When she isn't writing, Deepthi enjoys exploring new cultures, trying different foods, and spending quality time with her two children aged 7 and 12.
1) Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising. We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. If you purchase using the Buy Now button we may earn a small commission. This does not influence our choices. Prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published but we cannot guarantee that on the time of reading. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content.
2) At Kidadl, we strive to recommend the very best activities and events. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability. Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
3) Because we are an educational resource, we have quotes and facts about a range of historical and modern figures. We do not endorse the actions of or rhetoric of all the people included in these collections, but we think they are important for growing minds to learn about under the guidance of parents or guardians.