Festivus is a festival that is celebrated just before Christmas, on December 23. As the world drowns in the Christmas rituals and holidays shenanigans, Festivus is an alternative festival without the pressures and stress that Christmas celebrations bring year on year. While the origin of Festivus is credited to author Daniel O'Keefe, the popularity of this festival increased exponentially after its prominence in the popular show, Seinfeld, back in 1997. The festival has grown to hold great importance in the current day and age, especially to those who are not inclined on celebrating religious festivals. The celebration of Festivus does come with a few rituals, which are non-commital and extremely easy - like putting out an unadorned aluminium Festivus pole on display! Christmas 2019: Xmas Tree Traditions Across Countries That Portray Various Traditions And Customs.

Festivus celebrations are not just a parody to the exorbitant holiday celebrations but also serves as a consumer resistance initiative against brands that focus on driving sales in the holiday season, by promoting the idea of gifting. While many woke millennials are well aware of this uber-cool celebration, there are some who are rather uninformed about this fun gathering. And if you are one of them, then here is a breakdown on what is Festivus, why it is important, and how it is celebrated!

When is Festivus Celebrated?

As already mentioned, Festivus celebrations are observed on December 23 annually. While the extravagant Christmas celebrations begin on December 25, Christmas Eve also holds a lot of importance to those celebrating!

Significance of Festivus

Christmas was once a festival that celebrated the birth of Christ, the coming together of family and it was the commemoration of love, hope and faith. However, the festival has turned to become more focused on gifting, decorating the fanciest Christmas tree, having the best Christmas lights, etc. Recognising this shift, which was driven by consumerism, Festivus stands as an example of a holiday which is just about chilling with your friends and family. Festivus celebration mainly focuses on having a simple pole (instead of decorated Christmas tree) and actually enjoying the Festivus dinner with your loved ones, minus the stress and anxiety that holidays bring. Christmas 2019 Decoration Ideas: 5 Alternatives for Xmas Tree That Will Dazzle up Your Home This Holiday Season.

The Origin of Festivus

While Festivus was introduced by author Daniel O'Keefe, it was his son and co-writer of the Seinfeld episode, 'The Strike', Dan O'Keefe who popularised this festival. The Seinfeld episode was not just inclusive to those who did not celebrate Christmas but also served as a reminder of how the meaning of this festival has evolved with time. While Daniel O'Keefe began this celebration for his family, as early as 1966, it was a private affair only focusing on his own family.

The reason behind the popularity of Festivus has to be the increased awareness of the commercialisation of Christmas and people's simple choice of stepping away from this business of gifting. Festivals have always been more about focusing on your friends, family and spending quality time with them. And when that purpose is lost, the festival begins to lose its meaning. This is the message that Festivus celebrations exhibit and it is bound to be the need of the hour.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 20, 2019 07:00 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).