The Real Festivus: The True Story Behind America's Favorite Made-Up Holiday

By Daniel O'Keefe

Book Overview

It's beginning to look a lot like Festivus! From the Seinfeld writer and co-creator of the holiday that's becoming a world-wide cult phenomenon. Beginning on December 23rd and ending sometime in May (if revelers are still into it), Festivus is becoming one of America's most revered secular-if peculiar-holidays. Since making its public debut in 1997 on Seinfeld, Festivus is finally fully explained in the definitive guide to its bare-bones celebration of second-rate miracles and hopeless regrets. Discover the Festivus traditions: Gather Round the Festivus Pole: A latter-day addition to festivus celebrations, traditionally a simple aluminum pole. While tinsel is strictly forbidden, non-threatening decorations are permitted within reason. The Airing of Grievances: At the Festivus dinner table (spaghetti, meatloaf, whatever) participants inform family and friends of the ways in which they've been a disappointment. The Feats of Strength: Customarily Festivus is over when the head of the family is wrestled to the ground and pinned. (Either participant may decline if they have something better to do.) Conceivably this whole thing could be stretched out until sometime in May.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0399532293
• ISBN13: 9780399532290
• Release Date: January 2005
• Publisher: Perigee Books
• Length: 135 Pages
• Weight: 0.33 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.1" x 7.1"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 12 and higher

Customer Reviews

LAUGH OUT LOUD FUNNY!!! SEINFELD FANS YOU WILL LOVE THIS BOOK

This book is so funny I'm telling all my friends about it. Jason Alexander who played George Costanza kicks it off with a hilarious introduction, about how he's always being asked about Festivus. It's so George. Any true Seinfeld fan has to read it. The author of this book wrote the actual Festivus episode of Seinfeld. He based it on his own experience, because his father invented the holiday. It gives the a low-down, behind the scenes look at how Festivus orginated, and how to celebrate it. The author's like a real life George Costanza, it's like he actually lived the Seinfeld episdode. Tons of funny jokes, little pictures, and short hilarious chapters. An quick and easy, really, really, really funny read. Obviously a good Festivus present...

The Real Festivus is the Real Deal! Long Live Festivus!

I just purchased this two days ago, and I literally couldn't put it down. I figured since it's by a Seinfeld writer it would be funny, and it is, but it's also almost a memoir, and a really personal story that's kind of cool. The way this holiday originated in O'Keeffe's family is really unusual, but really heartwarming - it was originally to celebrate his parents' first date! My favorite part is the transcriptions of the actual Festivus celebrations from 1976, 77, 80 and 85. They actually tape recorded the whole holiday, and it feels like you're actually there celebrating Festivus with them. Long Live FESTIVUS!

Even More Bizarre Than Seinfeld

This book is a hysterically funny explanation of how the holiday Festivus was invented and observed by one very quirky family (whose experiences later inspired the Seinfeld "Festivus" episode written by the book's author). We learn that the origins of Festivus are even more bizarre and interesting than what we watched on Seinfeld!

As funny as Seinfeld

This one is just plain laff out loud funny! The real life Festivus guy's life is so weird I don't know why he's not in a mental hospital. It reminds me a little of a David Sedaris book.

Like Seinfeld, this book is REALLY FUNNY

Great details and amusing insight into how the whole Festivus holiday came about, as told by the guy who wrote the Seinfeld episode it was introduced in. But I hadn't expected the book to be this FUNNY. O'Keefe has a lot of great jokes throughout - from what's wrong with other holidays, to theories about why his dad invented the holiday, to other odd family rituals. Interestingly enough - the book also features a very funny introduction written by George himself, Jason Alexander. Why this feature isn't advertised here is kinda odd. If you're a fan of laughter (and who isn't?) - you'll be a fan of this book.