For those who find the holiday cheer more difficult to find this year, there is an alternative to the pleasant terrace of the room. There is an option available to celebrate a holiday and maintain a healthy dose of cranky.
That's right, there is Festivus
December 23 is Festivus, a day in history for anyone who thinks normal holiday traditions don't quite fit the bill this year.
Festivus is a special holiday that in pre-pandemic times was reserved for those who were more inclined to want to embrace their inner "bah humbug" than their Christmas spirit.
It is assumed that there are more of us in this camp than ever, and that the antidote, or at least one outlet that could be cathartic to us this year, is Festivus.
Festivus recalls the sitcoms of past years. The wacky party was born on the TV show "Seinfeld" on December 18, 1997, when George Costanza, played by Jason Alexander, revealed that his father (played by the late Jerry Stiller) created the day to contrast religious and business aspects.
of the traditional December holiday. Jerry Seinfeld, the protagonist of his eponymous show - broadcast on NBC from July 5, 1989 to May 14, 1998, with nine seasons and 180 episodes - is interested in the party and its particular rituals.
The public was first informed of the invented party Festivus during an episode of "Seinfeld" which took place on December 18, 1997. We see (from left to right) the late Jerry Stiller, Michael Richards and Jerry Seinfeld.
And if we're really technical, Festivus may have roots going back to 1966 when “Seinfeld” writer Dan O'Keefe, who introduced Festivus to history, overheard his dad dreaming of a vacation.
"Festivus for the rest of us!" is the catchphrase that spread like wildfire after the episode.
Socially distant Santa Claus is the best thing that could happen on Christmas.
The holiday comes with a set of traditions worthy this year of a pandemic and lockdowns and gloom otherwise, including a drab pole instead of a well-lit tree.
Perhaps most poignantly, the Festivus tradition also calls for a special ceremony known as a “grievance broadcast,” where you can tell the people in your life how they disappointed you.
I'm sure if “Seinfeld” produced any new episodes, they would expand the settings of Festivus to let you complain about the pandemic and all that is upside down in your life.
For my part, I'll be happy to gather around a salvaged post and complain about my head. I'm going to talk about all the missed family reunions, missed dates with friends, missed play dates for my kid.
I will even complain about the missed moments when I could have met a stranger, made a new friend, a neighbor, a new opportunity, a breath of new life.
I feel better thinking of all the complaints, the thought of letting 2020 come out with one hit, all in the name of Festivus!
Cutouts of actors Jason Alexander (left) and the late Jerry Stiller are shown along with Festivus messages that were to be distributed to fans online for Hulu's `` Seinfeld: The Apartment, '' a pop-up installation in West Hollywood, California, December 20, 2015.
And then I hope I will feel better and be thankful that my family is fine and my child has more fun tearing the wrapping paper and playing with the box containing the toy that took forever to arrive.
I know that spreading my grievances can be cathartic, but complaining too much, like too much of everything, may not be so good for me.
“If there has ever been a year worth celebrating Festivus, 2020 is it,” said Guy Winch, a renowned New York-based clinical psychologist who has followed as Dear Guy on TED and as co-host of the Dear Therapists Podcast, by email.
"The trick to doing this in an emotionally healthy way is to distinguish between two types of grievances.
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