Murder by Death

Festivus  (http://festivusweb.com/)

The idea of Festivus originated from Seinfeld writer Dan O’Keefe’s family tradition, started by his father Daniel O’Keefe Sr.  Daniel O'Keefe Sr. originally invented Festivus as a way to have a secular holiday celebration that was not burdened by the commercialism of the holiday season. According to family folklore, the first Festivus occurred in 1966, and continued hroughout the 1970s/80s.

The O'Keefe version of the holiday did not include an aluminum pole, however it had other unique traditions:

The O’Keefe Festivus had a “clock and a bag”, or sometimes a clock “in” a bag. The significance of the bag and the clock was unknown. Apparently, when the O’Keefe siblings would ask about the meaning, Daniel O’Keefe Sr. would simply reply, 'That’s not for you to know!’

There were no costumes for Festivus, but hats were often worn. Some of the favorites were a Viking helmet (with Play-Doh horns affixed), a brimless Cub Scout cap (including tinfoil adornments) or a pointy dunce cap.   

While the official Festivus dinner features meatloaf, the original dinner in the O'Keefe household featured a main course of turkey, ham, beef stew or lamb chops with pecan pie as dessert. as described in the book " There is little mention of alcohol, other than a note that the adults drank champagne.

Table manners at the O'Keefe family Festivus were entirely relaxed and the children were able to lick their plates and talk with their mouths full. The table was decorated with chocolate kisses, candies and knickknacks, funny hats were worn and the children were encouraged to make Play-Doh sculptures at the dinner table, in a competition which was judged by their mother.

The celebration of Festivus continues immediately after the dinner is served, with the Airing of Grievances. Each participant tells friends and family of all the instances where they disappointed him or her that year.

The Feats of Strength is considered to be the final tradition of Festivus, usually following the Festivus Dinner and the Airing of Grievances. Traditionally, Festivus is not over until the head of the household is wrestled to the floor and pinned.  Some celebrants of Festivus substitute Thumb Wrestling as a suitable and safe feat of strength. The addition of tiny wrestling masks to your thumb makes it even more zany.

(sources: Festivus, the book  - ISBN 9781511556392 and The Real Festivus, by Dan O’Keefe - ISBN 9780399532290)

Book themes for Festivus: Read anything comedic; a parody, satire, etc.  Books with hilariously dysfunctional families (must be funny dysfunctional, not tragic dysfunctional).  Anything that makes you laugh (or hope it does).

Tasks for Festivus: Post your personal list of 3 Festivus Miracles –OR– post a picture of your Festivus pole (NOTHING pornographic, please!), –OR– Perform the Airing of Grievances:  name 5 books you’ve read this year that have disappointed you - tell us in tongue-lashing detail why and how they failed to live up to expectations.

Saturnlia

Saturnalia was an ancient Roman festival in honour of the god Saturn, held on 17 December through to 23 December. The holiday was celebrated with a sacrifice at the Temple of Saturn, in the Roman Forum, and a public banquet, followed by private gift-giving, continual partying, and a carnival atmosphere that overturned Roman social norms.

Saturnalia is the best-known of several festivals characterized by role reversals and behavioral license. Slaves were treated to a banquet of the kind usually enjoyed by their masters. Saturnalian license also permitted slaves to disrespect their masters without the threat of a punishment. It was a time for free speech: the Augustan poet Horace calls it "December liberty”.

Romans of citizen status normally went about bare-headed, but for the Saturnalia donned the pilleus, the conical felt cap that was the usual mark of a freedman. Slaves, who ordinarily were not entitled to wear the pilleus, wore it as well, so that everyone was "pilleated" without distinction.

Gambling and dice-playing, normally prohibited or at least frowned upon, were permitted for all, even slaves. Coins and nuts were the stakes. Rampant overeating and drunkenness became the rule, and a sober person the exception.

Book themes for Saturnalia:  The god Saturn has a planet named after him; read any work of science fiction that takes place in space.  –OR– Read a book celebrating free speech. –OR–  A book revolving around a very large party, or ball, or festival, –OR– a book with a mask or masks on the cover.  –OR– a story where roles are reversed.

Tasks for Saturnalia: Wear a mask, take a picture and post it.  Leave a small gift for someone you know anonymously - a small bit of chocolate or apple, a funny poem or joke.  Tell us about it in a post.  –OR– Tell us: If you could time-travel back to ancient Rome, where would you want to go and whom (both fictional and / or nonfictional persons) would you like to meet?