The celebration of Festivus begins with Airing of Grievances, which takes place immediately after the Festivus dinner has been served. Frank Costanza: And at the Festivus dinner, you gather your family around, and tell them all the ways they have disappointed you over the past year! Each participant tells friends and family of all the instances where they disappointed him or her that year. Frank Costanza: Welcome, new comers. 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! In the traditional Seinfeld Festivus, only the head of the household seems to be given the chance to air his/her grievances. Tips for the Airing of Grievances Don't forget to include guests (newcomers) to your list of people you may have grievances about, especially if you have a boss of a company that really stinks. Frank Costanza: You, Kruger. My son tells me your company stinks! You couldn't smooth a silk sheet if you had a hot date with a babe...I lost my train of thought. If you have to, write your grievances out on note cards beforehand, just in case you lose your train of thought. More Airing of Grievances Tips If you are shy, anonymously write your grievances on a sticky note and post the note to the Festivus Pole. You can always put the phone number of the off-track betting place or the local bagel shop on the sticky note just to throw people off. If your family and friends are shy and reserved types, keep the airing of grievances short, or possibly include a rule that the only personal grievances that can be aired must be directed to those who did not attend the gathering (fair game) or public figures such as politicians and celebrities (always fair game).
The Feats of Strength is the final tradition observed in the celebration of Festivus, celebrated immediately following (or in the case of "The Strike", during) the Festivus dinner. The head of the household selects one person at the Festivus celebration and challenges that person to a wrestling match.[5] Evidently, the person may decline if they have something else to do, as Kramer did in the episode. Tradition states that Festivus is not over until the head of the household is pinned in a wrestling match. The Feats of Strength are mentioned twice in the episode before they actually take place. In both instances, no detail was given as to what had actually happened, but in both instances, George Costanza ran out of the coffee shop in a mad panic, implying he had bad experiences with the Feats of Strength in the past. What the Feats of Strength entailed was revealed at the very end of the episode, when it actually took place. Failing to pin the head of the household results in Festivus continuing until such requirement is met. From the Seinfeld episode: Jerry Seinfeld: "And wasn't there a Feats of Strength that always ended up with you crying?" George Costanza: "I can't take it anymore! I'm going to work! Are you happy now?!" Frank Costanza: "I've brought one of the cassette tapes." Frank Costanza (on a tape recorder): "Read that poem." George Costanza (on a tape recorder): "I can't read it, I need my glasses." Frank Costanza (on a tape recorder): "You don't need glasses! You're just weak, weak!" Estelle Costanza (on a tape recorder): (shouts) "Leave him alone!" Frank Costanza (on a tape recorder): "All right, George. It's time for the Festivus Feats of Strength!" George Costanza: "No! No! Turn it off! No Feats of Strength! I hate Festivus!" Frank Costanza: "We had some good times."
Festivus miracles Cosmo Kramer twice declares a Festivus Miracle during the Festivus celebration in the Costanza household. Miracle 1: Sleazy Guy: "Hello again, Miss Benes." Elaine Benes: "What are you doing here?" Sleazy Guy: "Damnedest thing. Me and Charlie were calling to ask you out, and, uh, we got this bagel place." Cosmo Kramer: "I told them I was just about to see you. It's a Festivus Miracle!" Miracle 2: Gwen: "Jerry!" Jerry Seinfeld: "Gwen! How did you know I was here?" Gwen: "Kramer told me!" Cosmo Kramer: "Another Festivus Miracle!" Jerry Seinfeld: (gives Kramer a murderous glare)
Festivus pole In the episode, the tradition of Festivus begins with an aluminum pole. Daniel O'Keefe credits fellow Seinfeld writer Jeff Schaffer with introducing the concept, which was not part of the original O'Keefe family celebration. During Festivus, the pole is displayed unadorned. The basics of the Festivus pole are explained by Frank in two separate situations: Cosmo Kramer: "And is there a tree?" Frank Costanza: "No, instead, there's a pole. It requires no decoration. I find tinsel distracting ... t's made from aluminum. Very high strength-to-weight ratio." When not being used, the pole is stored in the Costanzas' crawl space.
