Mechinima’s ‘Random Things You Should Know’ have put together a fascinatingly hilarious summary of the reality that is Festivus, the real alternative to Christmas as made famous by an episode of Seinfeld. A tale that proves sometimes reality is stranger than fiction and sometimes life imitates art imitating life. Both of which are an accurate description of Festivus, let me explain.

Many people may believe that Festivus was a flight of fancy invented by the very creative minds working on the Seinfeld show but the truth is actually far stranger. The celebration of the aluminium pole was a creation of the Dan O’Keefe in February 1966, the father of one of the writers. After hearing about the unusual celebration Seinfeld thought it was so hilarious that he insisted on including it in the episode ‘The Strike’, a case of art imitating life and reality being stranger than fiction.

The original O’Keefe Festivus even included the hilarious annual custom of the ‘Airing of Grievances’. The popularity of the episode has since led many people to take on the Festivus tradition, life imitating art imitating life. Festivus celebrations have become so popular that there is now a company in the US that sells Festivus Aluminium poles.

Presented for your viewing pleasure is the background story of a festival so funny that it spawned a Seinfeld episode that itself started a whole new tradition. For more information on the funniest of traditions Dan O’keefe has released a book on the subject ‘The Real Festivus’. Sit back, relax and prepare to be amused and amazed by how strange the world can be.

Reference: Machinima