Festivus - merry or happy?

A debate regarding the proper Festivus greeting has been raging ever since the inception of the holiday. Should we greet one another with a 'Happy Festivus' or a 'Merry Festivus'.

The only known recorded greeting is a "Happy Festivus". It has been argued however that "Merry Festivus" is equally acceptable.

Traditional holidays, Christmas and New Year, are prefaced with a "Merry Christmas" and a "Happy New Year". Festivus was designed to be a replacement for Christmas. As Frank Costanza was raining blows down on the other man as he wrestled for a christmas present for his son, he realised there had to be a better way. Festivus was born. If Festivus stands in place of Christmas should it not be celebrated with a "Merry"?

Alternately, some argue, that as Festivus was incepted as an alternative to Christmas it would not be proper to continue with Merry. "Happy Festivus" is a more appropriate salutation.

rob

Unless you're in Great Britain, where "Happy Christmas" is the rule. Then what do you do? But since Festivus is not a particularly happy or merry holiday, it's a moot point.

Rerics

On 14 Oct 2005 12:46:16 -0700, "Rerics" wrote:

More importantly, since the only authoritative reference is "Happy Festivus," where's the debate?

"LRod" wrote in message news:[email]...

since

argued

"Merry

replacement

man as

to be

Christmas

alternative to

Festivus" is

because the only known recorded festivus greeting was a 'happy festivus' it doesn't make it authoritative. The salutation was coined by Kramer, he himself did not inaugurate Festivus, Frank Costanza did.

FRank Costanza is a very exacting man. He does not do things haphazardly or without reason. The very notion of festivus was a holiday we could all enjoy, a 'festivus for the rest of us'. There is the aluminium pole, it was chosen very carefully as aluminium has a high strength to weight ration. In other words, it is light yet strong. There is particular planning in the choice of the material for the festivus pole. There is no tinsel as Frank finds tinsel distracting. Again, deliberation and thought. Definately no tinsel with festivus.

Therefore, with a man as exacting as Frank Costanza, do you not think were a certain salutation important he would have established that. The process of festivus is set down precisely from the pole and no tinsel through to the meal, airing of grievances and the feats of strength. I do believe if Costanza intended there to be an 'authoritative' festivus greeting he himself would have established it. Therefore I still think the debate is valid.

rob

On Sat, 15 Oct 2005 22:24:05 +1300, "George.com" wrote:

You need to separate reality from the fiction of a TV show.

Reality is that a "holiday," festivus, was created from a fictional TV show. All things authoritative with regard to it derive from what was seen on the program.

What the fictional character, Frank Costanza, MIGHT have chosen is unknowable, and thus immaterial to the discussion. The only thing that can be KNOWN about festivus (a fictional creation) is what was presented.

Thus, the only authoritative source what was presented by the creator(s) of the Seinfeld show, irrespective of what characters within might have ordained.

"LRod" wrote in message news:[email]...

or

was

In

were a

of

If you accept that the notion of festivus is divinely ordained from the show, and that the procedure is set exactly as outlined according to Kramers happy festivus, you will take the position as you set out.

Festivus however has entered polular culture and may be interpretive. People celebrate festivus at different times in December or have a variety of food for the festivus meal.

Had the writers of Seinfeld wished an authoritative festivus salutation they would have written it into Franks role. Costanza, a man who collected TV guides and could tell if a single edition was missing. A man who would spurn culture and not take off his shoes as he had a foot condition. The authority for festivus is Frank Costanza. In the absence of a clear ununciation from him I believe the exact festivus greeting is interpretive.

rob

"George.com" wrote in message news:dislvr$pnp$[email]...

Eastivus is the new holiday you should all be celebrating. No Easter Eggs, but solid spheres of chocolate instead.

"Gareth Thomas" wrote in message news:YMn4f.2838$[email]...

haphazardly

it

ration.

the

no

process

is

from

Eggs,

I thought Eastivus was a scientology cultic festival set up in competition to festivus.

rob

The authority

from

I agree about Frank being the authority, so if Kramer said "Happy Festivus" infront of Frank, and Frank didn't correct him, then it must stand.

Just as Kramer mentioned "Another Festivus Miracle", we must conclude that miracles are also part of the Holiday as Frank didn't say something like "No Kramer....no miracles".

After all.......you wouldn't change the name of the holiday....you wouldn't eliminate the feats of strength.

So if Frank didn't object to the "Miracle" and to the "Happy", then even though he didn't specifically bring them up, he didn't correct Kramer.

"Incubus" wrote in message news:435543e5$0$28001$[email]...

sort of like 'laying on of hands' bestowing some form of apoltolic leadership. A strong argument convincingly stated.

Those who claim that the apostate Kramer as the authority for a festivus salutation are wrong imo. However, your argument that Father Frank did not correct the apostate suggests to me that Happy Festivus is an authorised greeting.

rob

"George.com" wrote in message news:dj7l1b$c76$[email]...

elaine reads the postcard from frank costanza addressed to george at the beginning of the episode: "dear son, happy festivus!.." case closed.

"Raskolnikov" wrote in message news:435acaa9$0$20263$[email]...

man! Raskolnikov rocks!

dave

"George.com" wrote in message news:dinv42$63f$[email]...

According to Webster's,

happy is "favored by luck or fortune" (syn: cheerful, delighted, glad)

merry is "full of high spirits; marked by festivity" (syn: festive, jolly, gleeful)

Now, since we are talking about FESTIVUS, it would SEEM that "merry" would be more appropriate if the actual definitions were consulted (ie: festivity, festive)

However, George was never full of high spirits about FESTIVUS. In fact, he hated the holiday. Aluminum poles, no decorations, feats of strength, rehashing disappointing moments from the year past... I mean, come on!

I would argue that EITHER merry or happy could be used with FESTIVUS. The defintions are so close.

But I don't like FESTIVUS. It is a stupid, silly, made-up holiday. How about a third contender.....

WRETCHED FESTIVUS, EVERYONE!!!!

"dave" wrote in message news:vXu4f.7245$[email]...

I have a better greeting for Festivus....

......F*cking Festivus to the rest of you!

But remember Eastivus rocks!! And you can say Happy, Merry, Wonderful, Superb, Excellent, everything goes with Eastivus and the solid spheres of chocolate. (Remember Eastivus takes place 7 days before Easter).

"dave" wrote in message news:vXu4f.7245$[email]...

since

argued

to

Christmas

Festivus"

festivity,

he

so for George is wouldn't be Happy festivus as he was never favoured by luck or fortune.

"read that" "I can't read it, I need my glasses" "you don't need glasses, you're just weak"

"Festivus isn't over till you pin me"

perhaps happy post festivus if he had the luck to survive it.

rob