Festivus & Chrismukkah: TV Holidays To Celebrate This Festive Season

Reading Time: 7 minutes read

Writers. They bring us entertainment. They create everything from novels to autobiographies, news stories, songs, movies, plays, television shows, and even interesting blog stories just to name just a few. Writers have the power to make you laugh, as well as make you cry. They’ll sometimes make you think. And sometimes they’ll have you celebrating holidays that didn’t previously exist or weren’t widely known. 

Quick Links

• What is Festivus?
• What are the rules of Festivus?
• When is Festivus 2021?
• Festivus gift ideas.
• What is Chrismukkah?
• How to celebrate Chrismukkah.
• When is Chrismukkuh 2021?
• The perfect Chrismukkah gifts.

Two such holidays were introduced to us via the writers of the popular shows Seinfeld and The OC. From these shows we now have the option of celebrating Festivus and Chrismukkah (spelled Christmukkah or Chrismukkah), respectively. They’re not official or widely practiced holidays so expect mail delivery and observe normal street parking rules. However, they offer additional opportunities to get together around official holidays and share more holiday cheer. Unless you identify with that green Dr. Seuss character, Festivus and Chrismukkah can be celebrated by just about anyone. 

Here’s more about Festivus and Chrismukkah.  

What is Festivus?

“The Strike” is the 166th episode of the NBC sitcom Seinfeld. This was the tenth episode of the ninth and final season. It aired on December 18, 1997. This episode features and popularized the holiday of Seinfeld Festivus. 

In the episode, George Costanza attempts to avoid buying a holiday gift for coworkers by instead giving them cards which say a donation was made on their behalf to The Human Fund. His boss, Mr. Kruger, thinking the fund is fake, asks George more about the so-called charity. 

In an attempt to cover the lie, George tells him that he celebrates Festivus instead of Christmas and gives out the fake cards to avoid being persecuted for his beliefs. To prove that Festivus is real, George takes Mr. Kruger to Festivus dinner at his parents’ house. 

What are the rules of Festivus?

To truly experience a Happy Festivus, an understanding of its basic rules will help. 

George’s father, Frank Costanzas’ tradition begins with an aluminum pole, which Frank praises for its “very high strength-to-weight ratio.” During Festivus, the unadorned Festivus Pole is displayed. It was chosen in opposition to the commercialization of highly decorated Christmas trees, its “very low-maintenance,” and also because the holiday’s patron, Frank Costanza, “finds tinsel distracting.” 

A festivus meal of either meatloaf or spaghetti is served. However, before the meal is served, the tradition of “The Airing of Grievances” begins. Each participant tells friends and family of all the instances where they disappointed him or her that year. As quoted from Frank Costanza: “I’ve got a lot of problems with you people, and now you’re going to hear about it!” 

After dinner and grievances, the Feats of Strength take place. The head of the family tests his or her strength against one participant of the head’s choosing. Festivus is not considered over until the head of the family has been pinned to the ground. A participant is allowed to decline to attempt to pin the head of the family only if they have something better to do instead. While it may be a fun idea, the traditional Feats of Strength could potentially injure people as well as damage furniture and household appliances. Here’s a collection of good alternatives.

When is Festivus 2021?

A Festivus for the rest of us, much like it did last Festivus 2020, is celebrated this December 23, 2021. Originally, Frank Costanza inventedy the holiday to get out of the pandemonium of Christmas shopping.

For those not written into the actual script of Seinfeld, Festivus is an opportunity to get together a day before traditional Christmas Eve and Christmas events take place. Friends are often in town for the holidays and Festivus is a good enough excuse to get together. 

Festivus gift and party ideas

Technically, you don’t have to exchange Festivus gifts but they’re great to break out around the holidays. Putting on a Festivus sweater adorned with popular Festivus quotes like “A Festivus for the rest of us,” will get any Festivus party going. 

Take a group photo and use it to print future Festivus Party invitations or thank you cards. Title the card, “You wanna piece of me?” Put all the great photos taken at your Festivus event and put them into great gifts like photo calendars, photo books, and photo canvases. 

What is Chrismukkah?

For those people who live in mixed faith households, wishing all a Merry Chrismukkah might just be your thing. In the tv series The OC which aired from 2003 through 2007, a troubled youth becomes embroiled in the lives of a close-knit group of people in the wealthy, upper-class neighborhood of Newport Beach, Orange County, California.

One of The OC’s main characters, Seth Cohen, creates this Christmas-Hanukkah hybrid so he wouldn’t have to choose between his Protestant and Jewish roots. 

How to celebrate Chrismukkah

Seth explains it best: The OC Chrismukkah is “eight days of presents, followed by one day of many presents. There’s also that whole family thing and lighting the menorah and Santa, but hey, gift after gift after gift!” Chrismukkah stockings are hung on the mantle right next to the Menorah. A chrismukkah stocking is, obviously, where more presents go. 

When is Chrismukkah 2021?

Like Chrismukkah 2020, there is no exact date as Hanukkah varies from year to year. However, when Christmas and Hanukkah overlap, Chrismukkah is celebrated. This year, Christmas Eve and Hanukkah technically do not coincide. But the spirit of Chrismukkah can be celebrated with whatever latitude you want to give it. The important thing to remember is to celebrate both traditions when families have an interfaith element. 

The Perfect Chrismukkah Gifts

With everyone gathered to share gifts it might be nice to serve eggnog sufganiyot and Hanukkah candy canes and latkes. Chrismukkah gifts can include a yarmulclaus, a kippah that looks like a Santa hat. There are any variety of shirts, cards, mugs and ornaments all dedicated to the combination holiday.

And while you’re Chrismukkahing, capture the moment in photos. Any one of them would go nicely in next year’s Chrismukkah card or a photo book commemorating this year’s event. 

While giving gifts is a key part of this special holiday, let’s not forget those who are less fortunate. While you give gifts to each other, give to deserving charities and spread cheer beyond your home and family. After looking at what you received from friends and family, try to donate the same amount of gently worn or used items to charitable organizations like Goodwill, Salvation Army, or Habitat for Humanity. 

Celebrate With Motif This Holiday Season

Whichever special holiday you celebrate, take the time to capture all the special moments in photos. To truly capture them and keep them from disappearing into your photo feed, put your best in print with Motif. Simply download the free app to your Mac, iPad, or iPhone. 

The app works exclusively with Apple Photos so there is no uploading. It’s smart technology can automatically flow your photos into stylish photo book layouts. Have a little fun and personalize the heck out of it with copy, designs, and color. Start your Festivus or Chrismukkah library easily with Motif. 

Bring your photo memories to life with Motif

Experience the joy of creating personalized photo projects with Motif. Our photo book app seamlessly works with Apple Photos in macOS and iOS. It does all the complicated stuff leaving the fun creative freedom to you.