Tired of the same old holiday routine and the over-commercialization of all things winter wonderful? Then this party idea is for you! Festivus, the holiday for the rest of us, takes the approach of celebrating the simple things in life. Here's what you need to know to throw the perfect Festivus party.
Photo Credit: Festivus! The Website
Decorations
The traditional decoration for Festivus is a Festivus pole. This is usually an unadorned aluminum pole that is placed in the corner. Not sure what to use for your Festivus pole? Use the shower curtain rod, a long lamp, a stack of cans, or something of this nature. It's not supposed to be fancy. One of the joys of Festivus is celebrating the ordinary.
Food
The idea of Festivus comes from Daniel O'Keefe. His son, Dan O'Keefe, was a write for Seinfeld, and he wrote an episode which featured Festivus. In the Seinfeld episode, characters are seen eating what appears to be meatloaf served on a leaf of lettuce. For your Festivus, serve some type of red-colored dish. This could be meatloaf, or try serving spaghetti or lasagna. Serve simple, off-the-wall sides, like pretzels from the bag, cheese and crackers, or soup.
Activities
There are two traditional Festivus activities that must be performed to have a complete Festivus celebration. The "Airing of Grievances" and "Feats of Strength."
With the "Airing of Grievances" each person takes turns getting out their frustration at all the times they have been disappointed throughout the year. This takes place during Festivus dinner. Try to keep the mood light by sharing simple disappointments, like your food getting stuck in the vending machine. This way everyone still has a great time.
After everyone has enjoyed their Festivus dinner, the "Feats of Strength" will be performed. Traditionally, the head of the household (or host) chooses someone to wrestle and Festivus cannot end until the head of household is pinned. However, you can choose to hold a competition of some sorts, such as a video game or dart tournament, instead.
Before you send your guests off, make sure to announce a Festivus miracle or two. These are ordinary events that can be easily explained. Part of the joy of Festivus is celebrating parts of our ordinary lives that we may normally take for granted. Have fun, and just enjoy the company of those around you.
If you don't feel up to cooking your own Festivus dinner, consider having it catered by one of our Wedding and Party members!
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