Happy Festivus!
posted at 4:55 pm on December 23, 2010 by Allahpundit
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: It’s the closest thing we have to a true atheist holiday.
And now, my friends, it’s gone global.
While mostly noted today among Americans, Festivus was also inspiring a number of tweets from around the world and for much of the day was a top 10 most-tweeted phrase among tweeters worldwide.
In England, Alice Rooney experienced not a Christmas miracle, but rather a Festivus miracle amid the snow that has clogged highways and brought airports to a standstill. “Making it from Bristol to London on public transport in the current climate surely qualifies as an early festivus miracle,” she tweeted Dec. 20.
Even in Indonesia the fake holiday was noted today, with Haddy Kustaman tweeting: “Festivus Is Here: Time To Air Grievances.” And in Australia, Mik Morley tweeted: “Look out world, the countdown to #Festivus has begun, and I has some grievances…”
Two clips, the second a familiar highlight reel from Seinfeld’s Festivus episode and the first from CNN this morning of Jerry Stiller riffing for seven full minutes on the (fake) Roman origins of the holiday and what it means to him. I haven’t seen “Little Fockers” yet — and won’t — but I’d bet that he delivers more laughs here than Ben does in 100 minutes of that travesty. And with that, let the airing of grievances begin!
Blowback
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Same to you, pal. :)
Enrique on December 23, 2010 at 4:58 PM
The Question is: Does Allah have a Festivus Pole?
upinak on December 23, 2010 at 5:00 PM
Festivus for the rest of us!
Ian on December 23, 2010 at 5:02 PM
When do the feats of strength begin?
Knucklehead on December 23, 2010 at 5:02 PM
Is your Festivus Pole all decorated yet?
amerpundit on December 23, 2010 at 5:03 PM
Do you really have that much bandwidth?
AZCoyote on December 23, 2010 at 5:04 PM
He wants a pole, but probably would prefer one of the “stripper” variety :D
JetBoy on December 23, 2010 at 5:06 PM
Anywho.. Merry Christmas!
upinak on December 23, 2010 at 5:07 PM
You got the dollar bills?
upinak on December 23, 2010 at 5:07 PM
Finally.
I can’t wait to give empty soda cans to my family for Festivus.
blatantblue on December 23, 2010 at 5:08 PM
Am I alone in thinking this joke is getting seriously overplayed at this point?
MayBee on December 23, 2010 at 5:08 PM
If you were a true “Festivan”, AP, you would have ranted about how we’ve caused you problems all year. Come on. Air your grievances.
Squiggy on December 23, 2010 at 5:08 PM
Seinfeld irony does not age well.
BHO Jonestown on December 23, 2010 at 5:09 PM
Allah shares his Festivus pole with the kittys. During the “High Holy Days” he removes the carpeting from the cat condo…
Happy Festivus, Allah.
FloridaBill on December 23, 2010 at 5:10 PM
Jerry Stiller is a treasure.
My Festivus Pole is polished to a mirror like finish, has professional pinstriping and I use a color wheel to make it change colors.
portlandon on December 23, 2010 at 5:10 PM
Of course, Karl Rove was born on December 25 too. One of my liberal friends used to celebrate Rovestivus.
IU_Conservative on December 23, 2010 at 5:10 PM
My friends and I went on a cinematic adventure last night. We watched “Zombie Strippers” on Netflix.
It was pretty much a RIDICULOUS zombie flick (starring the actor who played Freddie Kruger) that had very clear and stunning anti-Bush/Cheney tones. It was so bad..
…..but so good.
blatantblue on December 23, 2010 at 5:10 PM
YES.
I HATE YOU.
blatantblue on December 23, 2010 at 5:11 PM
BTW, Merry Christmas to all you other HA commenters.
FloridaBill on December 23, 2010 at 5:12 PM
It’ descending into Rick-Rolled territory.
We will know that it has jumped the shark when the Festivus Poll makes an appearance in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. (Rick-Rolling did last year.)
portlandon on December 23, 2010 at 5:14 PM
You sure are.
Knucklehead on December 23, 2010 at 5:14 PM
I don’t believe a movie like that could be ridiculous haha
Sure! Festivus party at AP’s! I’ll volunteer for the “Feats of Strength”
JetBoy on December 23, 2010 at 5:21 PM
Kiss My Ass Atheists!
Merry Christmas!
Most of you are losers and spoilers, but good luck too you. You’re outnumbered, and everyone is laughing at you. Yeah, yeah, you think you’re cool and enlightened, but when push comes to shove and you’re in a pinch the only one who might come running is one of God’s believers.
Maybe.
You guys suck. But you won’t spoil my Christmas – and I love watching you hang out there in the abysss. Cry a little louder….. I love the sound of angels singing.
Cody1991 on December 23, 2010 at 5:21 PM
I think you misunderstand the reason for this season. The pole must be unadorned to allow for the feats of strength without sending the recipient to the hospital.
unclesmrgol on December 23, 2010 at 5:22 PM
That’s the holiday spirit! Did someone pee in your eggnog?
GnuBreed on December 23, 2010 at 5:24 PM
Like Ralphies dad said in A Christmas Story….
This is REAL news!?!?
Right? LOL
Holy cow, how far we as a world civilization have descended. God just has to be looking down upon us, shaking his head, and wondering…what in HIS name happened?
capejasmine on December 23, 2010 at 5:26 PM
Yep. Dishing it right back. Not to the troops in the fields, but I’ll hand it right back to the people at home.
And I’ll hand it to anyone right here. Do you have any problems with that?
Cody1991 on December 23, 2010 at 5:29 PM
Cody
Relax.
Not every atheist is a loser. Not every believer is a hard worker.
blatantblue on December 23, 2010 at 5:29 PM
Lighten Up, Francis.
portlandon on December 23, 2010 at 5:30 PM
Wow!!! LOL
But if you could express how you feel. What would you say? LOL
capejasmine on December 23, 2010 at 5:34 PM
Ben, that sucks. I can’t believe you get paid for stupid crap like that.
Now Sarah blowing Bambi to kingdom come is damned funny.
You, not so much.
Prepare to be pinned.
turfmann on December 23, 2010 at 5:35 PM
Cheer up, bro. Almost Christmas Eve!
Anyhoo, may has well take the opportunity to wish y’all a very Merry Christmas! God Bless!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZ-8jYpa1-o
JetBoy on December 23, 2010 at 5:37 PM
Tell me when someone does something that is worth noting. OR, tell me when someone does nothing and someone dies. Should they have done something?!
It’s fun to play word games, isn’t it? I hear that 60 years ago people did the same thing. But that’s different, right?
Cody1991 on December 23, 2010 at 5:38 PM
“I walk into my room to discover my son treating his body like a playground!”
Great Seinfeld quote
blatantblue on December 23, 2010 at 5:38 PM
No, you’re not. It’s like someone who tells the same knock-knock joke to his friends every day.
Okay, I get it, you don’t want to join in the festivities, you want all that attention on YOU. I mean, otherwise, you’d get your own damned holiday instead of horning in on someone else’s “special day.”
Maybe a better metaphor is a kid who gets mad on his brother’s birthday because the brother is getting all the attention.
Merovign on December 23, 2010 at 5:41 PM
Allah, how is the war on Christmas going? Are we winning?
Vyce on December 23, 2010 at 5:48 PM
Merry Christmas everybody! I blow kisses at you all, trolls and twerps included. Big snogs to you, Allahpundit.
Fortunata on December 23, 2010 at 5:55 PM
My mother had a Glamour magazine, I started leafing through it….so one thing led to another.
Knucklehead on December 23, 2010 at 5:58 PM
The only pole I’ve ever bothered with is the May Pole – all those maidens dancing around it – memories.
OldEnglish on December 23, 2010 at 6:01 PM
The Pole of Leftist Pain is quite appropriate.
Key West Reader on December 23, 2010 at 6:03 PM
Bragging, eh?
unclesmrgol on December 23, 2010 at 6:04 PM
Hah! Reminiscing!
OldEnglish on December 23, 2010 at 6:07 PM
Let us not worry our heads and hearts over the Festivus Pole of Leftist Pain. Obama will single handedly flush the Poles of American Prosperity into his Royal Golden Toilet of Marxism, while at the same time lifting those who cling to the Pole of Leftist Pain into their Reichtful Places.
Here here.
/John Kerry’s Christmas Wish From His Yacht That Failed To Pay Taxes, and his Real Name is John Heinz.
Key West Reader on December 23, 2010 at 6:10 PM
Just as real as Kwanza, and both just as sad.
AnotherOpinion on December 23, 2010 at 6:11 PM
FESTIVUS: Airing of the Tea Party Grievances
Mutnodjmet on December 23, 2010 at 6:17 PM
I’ll be Kwanzaa shopping for one of the kids who is out of town in TN for Christmas and won’t be home till after the New Year.
Key West Reader on December 23, 2010 at 6:21 PM
.
Hey Cody! Go die in a fire!
.
Happy Festivus! and Merry Christmas too!
ronsfi on December 23, 2010 at 6:21 PM
Me heartie. Me believe thou Arrr forgetting International Talk Like a Pirate Day
Slowburn on December 23, 2010 at 6:23 PM
.
I think you mean Poiret, don’t you?
ronsfi on December 23, 2010 at 6:28 PM
.
Ahhhhhhrrrggg! The pity! It buuuuurrrrnnnsss! Aaaaaahhh!
ronsfi on December 23, 2010 at 6:30 PM
I’ll be around – forever. But enjoy your holidays. Never think you are safe.
Cheers
Cody1991 on December 23, 2010 at 6:34 PM
Looks like the Airing of Grievances has begun!
JetBoy on December 23, 2010 at 6:37 PM
Happy Yuletide, everyone! :)
OldEnglish on December 23, 2010 at 6:44 PM
Merry Christmas, everyone.
kingsjester on December 23, 2010 at 6:47 PM
.
Ooooh sinister. Pathetic twirp goes all tuffie tufferton behind the interwebs. Shouldn’t you be shooting up a preschool or something? Who can feel safe with nut jobs like this basement dweller going untreated.
ronsfi on December 23, 2010 at 6:48 PM
Not your call, Cody. Never think you are safe.
unclesmrgol on December 23, 2010 at 6:49 PM
OK. We’ll see how it all shakes out.
Cody1991 on December 23, 2010 at 6:59 PM
Wow. Could you be less Christian?
Thanks for the reminder of exactly why some people are so turned off to Christianity.
Ironically – and utterly predictably – our alleged atheist Allahpundit generally provides a pretty good lesson on how to act like a Christian.
You, uh, don’t.
———–
Merry Christmas and Happy Festivus, AP. I don’t care what you celebrate, I just hope hope its a merry and safe one. And just a little bit blessed, by something or other.
You bless me all year round.
Professor Blather on December 23, 2010 at 7:01 PM
Hey, if Kwanzaa can be made up by a Black Panther in 1967, then the atheists can have Festivus.
Nethicus on December 23, 2010 at 7:07 PM
Well, guys. I’m roasting in your well wished hell, and I must say that it’s this first time in three months that I’ve felt warm.
Thanks for the warm wishes.
Lol
Cody1991 on December 23, 2010 at 7:24 PM
I guess it could be worse. We could be putting up with jediism instead of this malarkey.
Do you want a bunch of Darth Vaders and Boba Fetts running amuck? Neither do I.
madmonkphotog on December 23, 2010 at 8:00 PM
Thanks for the warm wishes.
Lol
Cody1991 on December 23, 2010 at 7:24 PM
Cody, please remember that it is no longer PC for Christians to express their opinions.
mobydutch on December 23, 2010 at 8:13 PM
H/T Moonbattery
I never knew this…..festivus ain’t got nuttin on this cr@p.
sicoit on December 23, 2010 at 8:18 PM
BTW. I find this interaction interesting. It’s an unusual example of love that is exemplary.
So good on you guys. Really. So, seriously, this love is admirable.
Good on ya’ boys. Keep it up.
Cody1991 on December 23, 2010 at 8:18 PM
Festivus: the fruitcake of stupidity that’s always as stale as it was the year before.
illustro on December 23, 2010 at 8:20 PM
.
fiksd
ronsfi on December 23, 2010 at 8:22 PM
OK.
Thanks.
I’ll go somewhere else because I am who I am.
My country is my country.
I’m a simple guy.
AND…. the bottom line is that I’ll what I need to do. I’m not complicated.
Cody1991 on December 23, 2010 at 8:28 PM
a simple guy.
AND…. the bottom line is that I’ll what I need to do. I’m not complicated.
Cody1991 on December 23, 2010 at 8:28 PM
DO NOT be intimadated!
mobydutch on December 23, 2010 at 9:20 PM
I didn’t make it past the beginning when Stiller is bashing Republicans and bloviating on DADT, “the 9/11 bill should be passed in ANY form” ignorance. I guess my excitement over the Festivus joke doesn’t allow me to swallow leftist CNN bullsh*t to revel in the great Festivus humor. My memory of CNN from the 2008 election hasn’t been changed when I refused to stop watching these a$$holes.
Conan on December 23, 2010 at 9:21 PM
I have a grievance with Sarah Palin…
;-)
toliver on December 23, 2010 at 9:48 PM
.
I’m curious o cowardly “patriot”. What is it that you “need to do” to save us from the scourge of Festivus?
ronsfi on December 23, 2010 at 9:49 PM
Seinfeld – always funny, thank you Jerry and thank you TBS for still showing it every night. I watch as much as possible and my 18 year old son loves it as well, gives us something to talk about.
ncsully on December 23, 2010 at 9:55 PM
A donation has been made in your name to the Human Fund.
JimRich on December 23, 2010 at 11:08 PM
…and filled with Christmas spirit too–we can all see that. Well, in the spirit of the holiday, I’ll refrain from saying what I really think. I’ll just politely suggest you give being an ambassador for your religion a rest for a while and enjoy some time with family.
ElectricPhase on December 23, 2010 at 11:36 PM
Festivus for the rest of us…replete with the Festivus pole… Jerry Stiller was LOL funny in Seinfeld.
It’s silly that this is “going global” but i guess it’s simple, harmless fun.
Merry Christmas to every one at HA including Our Most Immaculate Atheist.
nagee76 on December 24, 2010 at 1:26 AM
Have a nice Christmas Allah.
You know Christmas really is a made up holiday too. No one really knows the date that Christ was born, and the time that shepherds are in the fields is more likely in Springtime. Some Pope way back when decided to counter-act the pagan winter celebrations by turning them into a remembrance of the Savior’s birth, that was a good thing.
I rejoice that so many are willing to come together to honor His birth at his time of year. It is a beautiful holiday, yet, it only has as much meaning as you allow your heart to feel.
If you can only celebrate the existence of good in the world. I am satisfied that God still works in you, regardless of your faith, or lack thereof.
Celebrate goodness. Because goodness, most assuredly does exist and that is reason enough to make merry with us.
Hosanna, hosanna, to God and the lamb!
petunia on December 24, 2010 at 4:35 AM
So are we to infer that atheists are full of grievances? Hmm, sounds about right to me.
Sorry – as a Christian I prefer to give thanks for the wonderful things in my life!
The best present you could get, Allah, would be an epiphany, and that could happen yet. I’ll pray for you.
disa on December 24, 2010 at 7:43 AM
“Happy Festivus” offends me! You must stop using it in your blog or I am telling Big Sis and when Big Sis does her pat down on you I can assure you your “junk” will swell (and it won’t be pride or lust causing it). Just for good measure I will also email Eric (The Just) Holder.
Herb on December 24, 2010 at 8:18 AM
Thanks for reminding many of U.S. that there are some things that should not be forgotten, no matter which side of the line one is on.
MSGTAS on December 24, 2010 at 9:04 AM
Well, it has become an official religion…at least in jail.
mizflame98 on December 24, 2010 at 9:27 AM
Merry Christmas everyone and a Happy New Year!!!!
Lou on December 24, 2010 at 9:33 AM
Merry Christmas!
Ryan Anthony on December 24, 2010 at 11:33 AM
The war on Festivus starts earlier and earlier each year.
TedInATL on December 24, 2010 at 11:47 AM
I gave my neighbor a card and as a gift to him I made a donation in his name to the Human Fund (Money for People). He came over with an aluminum pole….it was hilarious.
tommer74 on December 24, 2010 at 12:06 PM
Kini on December 24, 2010 at 1:43 PM
Allahpundit, you can do what you want during the Christmas season so long as you don’t complain about my robust celebration of Christmas as a religious holiday and don’t expect me to say “Happy Holdaiys” instead of “Merry Christmas.”
Phil Byler on December 24, 2010 at 5:00 PM
Oh, I don’t know. Christmas was already a pretty atheist holiday, especially the long term lesson:
That all knowing entity with limitless power that you thought was sitting in judgment over you was really a lie your parents told to you to keep you in line.
If there was ever a holiday designed to turn kids into atheists, Christmas seems to be it.
Count to 10 on December 24, 2010 at 5:11 PM
This wasn’t funny to begin with. It’s past thread bare now.
Happy Holy Days all.
Mason on December 24, 2010 at 5:14 PM
Merry Christmas to all at Hot Air. Rejoicing in the fact that God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten son to be our light & give salvation & eternal life to all who believe! This is true Peace on earth.
kg598301 on December 24, 2010 at 10:54 PM
Cody, please remember that it is no longer PC for Christians A55ho1z to express their opinions.
mobydutch on December 23, 2010 at 8:13 PM
.
fiksd
ronsfi on December 23, 2010 at 8:22 PM
Since when is it ok to take a comment at Hot Air, change it, and then falsely attribute the orginal comment? My comment was made on Dec. 23, at 8:13 PM.
mobydutch on December 24, 2010 at 11:54 PM
Just a question: If Jehovah is all-powerful, etc. why only one “begotten son”?
Who is John Galt on December 25, 2010 at 5:38 AM
Merry Christmas to all.
Any question that starts with “If Jehovah is all-powerful…” never ends well.
Mojave Mark on December 25, 2010 at 7:18 PM
Hotair.com: One big festivus… I’m just sayin’…
WordsMatter on December 26, 2010 at 10:46 AM
Cody, I think I will join you. There are better places to post comments.
mobydutch on December 26, 2010 at 11:35 AM
Enjoy your fake holiday, AllahP!
Al-Ozarka on December 27, 2010 at 8:12 AM
Blessings on you and your Festivus co-celebrants, AP.
J.E. Dyer on December 27, 2010 at 9:07 AM
Truly, Festivus is a religion made in Hollywood. And it has all the emptiness of the same.
Rethuglican on December 27, 2010 at 9:27 AM
SERENITY NOW!!!
ZK on December 27, 2010 at 12:18 PM