Happy Supernatural Festivus Everyone!
(This is a repost from this day back in 2010. After all, today is Festivus and it turns out Supernatural is well rooted in the holiday. Go figure!).
It’s December 23rd, so Happy Festivus everyone! It’s amazing how this made up holiday from the TV show Seinfeld has just grown in the hearts of many. From the times I have referenced that show, it seems that many of you have not seen it and certainly haven’t heard of this holiday invented by one of the characters to “celebrate the holiday season without participating in its pressures and commercialism.”
To explain to all of you Festivus and it’s hallowed traditions, I’ve pulled a few examples from Supernatural to explain. It’s amazing the times that Sam and Dean have certainly gotten it.
Festivus Aluminum Pole
There’s no tree in Festivus. Just an aluminum pole. Aluminum was chosen because of its very high strength to weight ratio.
Dean really digs the pole!
Festivus Miracles
Festivus miracles are very unlike other miracles and somewhat tricky. They are the labeling of easily explainable events as miracles. If you squint hard enough, you can find a few of these miracles happening in Supernatural. For example…
The End
Dean is stunned to see himself on the street corner out of harms way, his stoic angel friend coming in the nick of time.
Dean (stunned): Cass.
Castiel: We had an appointment.
It’s a Festivus miracle!
Here’s another one from the earlier years:
Dean: So, what are you going to do, huh? You gonna kill me?
Sam: You know what, I am sick of doing what you tell me to do. We’re no closer to finding Dad today, than we were 6 months ago.
Dean: Well, then here, let me make it easier for you. Come on, take it. Real bullets are gonna work a hell of a lot better than rock salt. Take it! (gun pointed at Dean) You hate me that much? You think you can kill your own brother? Well then, go ahead. Pull the trigger.
(waits for Sam to fire gun)
Dean: Do it!
(Sam tries to fire the gun, Dean hits him).
Dean: Man, I’m not going to give you a loaded pistol. Sorry, Sammy.
Alright, say it with me…It’s a Festivus miracle! Hey, I don’t make the rules.
Festivus Dinner
How would you like your cheeseburger? It’s not meatloaf, but it’s close.
Sam: Dude, you know, I’ve put up with a lot from you.
Dean: What are you talking about, I’m a joy to be around.
Sam: Your dirty socks in the sink, your food in the fridge.
Dean: What’s wrong with my food?
Sam: It’s not food anymore Dean, it’s Darwinism!
Grievances aren’t just for family members! It works with annoying fans too!
“No, I’m not a fan, okay. Not fans. In fact, I think the Dean and Sam story sucks. It is not fun, it’s not entertaining. It is a river of crap that would send most people howling to the nuthouse! So you listen to me. Their pain is not for your amusement. I mean, you think they enjoy being treated like-like circus freaks?”
It also works for TV personalities that just irk the living crap out of you!
“Calm down? I’m wearing sunglasses at night. You know who does that? No talent douchebags. I hate this game. I hate that we’re in a procedural cop show and you want to know why? Because I hate procedural cop shows. There’s like 300 on television, they’re all the freaking same, it’s like ‘oh… a plane crashed here.’ Oh shut up!”
Grievances aren’t just limited to Sam and Dean!
Feats of Strength
The rule for the Feats of Strength, which happens after the Festivus dinner, is the head of the household must be defeated through a wrestling match.
Considering Sam is usually the only other family member present, you know he made sure Dean cried Uncle.
Alice Jester is the founder, editor-in-chief, head writer, programmer, web designer, site administrator, marketer, and moderator for The Winchester Family Business. She is a 30 year IT applications and database expert with a penchant for creative and freelance writing in her spare (ha!!) time. That’s on top of being a wife, mother of two active kids, and four loving (aka needy) pets.
Merry Christmas Alice. Brilliant work as usual. Look forward to more articles from you. Much appreciated.
Woo-hoo! An awesome article featuring our favorite boys AND an awesome Seinfeld reference to tie it together. Wonderful work! Very enjoyable! 🙂
This is great! I love Festivus, trying to get my family to adopt the practice…they’re not going for it…oh well, guess I’ll live vicariously through the Winchesters! 😀
Aw, happy Festivus! That was fun!
Wonderful. Happy Festivus and Merry Christmas Alice.
Ha! Fun, fun,fun! Thanks for this, Alice. Just the right thing to look at before I embark on my Christmas trip through ice and snow.
Merry Christmas, everyone. Be well, very happy, laugh a lot!
With this I’m signing off more or less for about a week, will only occasionally be able to check in.
By the way: ‘It’s not food anymore, Dean, it’s Darwinism!’ is my favourite quote ever. Thank you,Alice, for including that!
Love, Jas
Happy Festivus! and Merry Christmas! What a Joy to find in the middle of my christmas wrapping nightmare! Thanks for this Alice!
@Jas–Safe Travels my friend
😆 😆 😆 Fab. Darwinism. Heh. Winchester bed wrestling. Hmmm … Merry Christmas, you lot. 😀
Awesome.
Merry Christmas and Happy Festivus Alice. 😉
Wow .. just wow .. Thanks again!!
My first Chritmas tree shed all its needles and I had to get and decorate another. Why did someone not tell me before about aluminion poles?! 😀
Hope everyone has a wonderful time with their loved ones.
Happy Festivus and Merry Christmas everyone, Love Ju
Hi Alice
This is great!
I had never watched Seinfeld that much, so this expression was totaly new to me.
“We had an appointment” gets to me everytime. I just loved that scene.
And how can you not love seeing two grown five year olds wrestling on the bed. 😀
Merry Chistmas Everyone!
Hope you all have a safe and happy holiday.
Wait, what? Festivus isn’t a real thing? Why didn’t I get that memo?
(I am actually not joking 😆 )
Thanks for the repost Alice. Happy Holidays to all!!!!!
Wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Be Blessed and Be Safe. don’t eat too much
I absolutely love these “festivus†miracles, it really encapsulated what this show is about. The brothers are always going through hard times that are then designed to teach them something afterward. A coworker at DISH pointed out that the brothers are currently going through one this season. I hope that Dean and Sam’s falling out, will eventually lead to a festivus miracle where they understand each other again. But waiting for that to happen is going to be hard, I am glad that I can re-watch the seasons using Blockbuster@Home from DISH while I wait. With my busy schedule, I try to get all of my DVDs delivered in the mail. But I also like that I have the option of exchanging them in a Blockbuster store, if it’s more convenient. I like reliving all of these miracles and seeing how they shaped the boys throughout these eight seasons. I really hope that like the other fights they have endured, this one will end with them gaining an understanding they didn’t have previously.