Happy Festivus! All About theSeinfeldHoliday for Airing Your Grievances (Plus 8 Other Fictional TV Festivities to Celebrate Year Around!)

Mar. 15, 2025

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“It sort of took off. We did it once just because we liked the idea of it, and then it just became this thing that people locked into,“Parks and Recreationco-creator Mike Schur toldLAistin 2019 of the fictional holiday centered around “ladies celebrating ladies.”

So while the holiday season is nearing the end with Christmas and New Year’s Day, there are still other special occasions to look forward to.

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Festivus, ‘Seinfeld’

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Also known as “a Festivus for the rest of us,” the holiday was created for those looking for a Christmas alternative to avoid the pressures and commercialism of the season.

Ways to celebrate include Airing of Grievances, Feats of Strength and recognizing easily explainable events asFestivus miracles.

Airing of Grievances happens immediately after dinner is served, where everyone at the table vents about how they’ve been disappointed in the past year.

Feats of Strength occurs after dinner, where the head of the household challenges one person to a wrestling match.

Oh, and don’t forget to trade in your decked-out Christmas tree for an unadorned aluminum pole!

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Galentine’s Day, ‘Parks and Recreation’

The purpose of the holiday is to recognize and honor the relationships shared with female friends ahead of Valentine’s Day.

Ways to celebrate include throwing a boozy, waffle-filled brunch and exchanging gifts with gal pals only.

As Leslie put it, “Every Feb. 13, my lady friends and I leave our husbands and our boyfriends at home, and we just come and kick it, breakfast-style. Ladies celebrating ladies. It’s like Lilith Fair, minus the angst. Plus frittatas.”

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Chrismukkah, ‘The O.C.’

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The hybrid name is a combination of both Christmas and Hanukkah. Chrismukkah was created as a way to enjoy the best of both holidays.

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Merlinpeen, ‘30 Rock’

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It was created to coincide with the Pranksmen’s fake religion called Verdukianism to opt out of Kenneth Parcell’s (Jack McBrayer) Secret Santa.

A way to celebrate includes leaving work early on Merlinpeen.

Verdukian beliefs features “the healing power of root beer” and “that a man can have up to nine wives if two of them are male,” according to characters on the show.

Another holiday celebrated within the fictional religion is the Verdukian Holiday of Mouth Pleasures, which includes indulging in free sausage pizza.

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Slapsgiving, ‘How I Met Your Mother’

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Slapsgivingwas first introduced as the title of aHow I Met Your Motherepisode in 2007. Fans might choose to pass on this celebration, but it takes place on Thanksgiving each year.

It was created whenNeil Patrick Harris’s Barney Stinson lost the slap bet, givingJason Segel’s Marshall Eriksen five slaps to be administered to Barney at any time he desired. Though not a fun holiday for the slap recipient, the comedic episode is an enjoyable one to watch.

It’s a day filled with slap-atizers and pumpkin pie!

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Leap Day, ‘30 Rock’

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Treat Yo' Self Day, ‘Parks and Recreation’

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Considered the “best day of the year,” Tom andRetta’s Donna Meaglemake an entire day out of splurging and indulging on foods, activities and purchases that make them happy.

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Ludachristmas, ‘30 Rock’

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Every year,The Girlie Showstaff holds a highly-anticipated, company-office party ahead of the holidays. The party is legendary for its drunken festivities and trashing of company Christmas gifts.

Ways to celebrate include hiring a stripper, throwing away useless gadgets (like photo scanners and paper shredders) and letting loose in a booze-clouded bubble before returning home for the holidays. It’s a time to release office-related frustrations in a safe, Christmas-sweater-wearing way.

09of 09Best Friends Day, ‘SpongeBob Squarepants’spongebob squarepants/ youtubeBest Friends Day was first introduced as a fictional holiday during an episode ofSpongeBob SquarePantsin 2007. It takes place on Feb. 19 each year.The day was created to recognize and honor the relationship formed between friends. On the show,Patrick Starcelebrates his friendship with SpongeBob through the gift of gum.Ways to celebrate include giving your friends gifts you think they’ll treasure rather than something you enjoy yourself. (Patrick did not get this right the first time, giving SpongeBob a giant ball of chewed-up gum he thought was disgusting.)

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Best Friends Day, ‘SpongeBob Squarepants’

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Best Friends Day was first introduced as a fictional holiday during an episode ofSpongeBob SquarePantsin 2007. It takes place on Feb. 19 each year.

The day was created to recognize and honor the relationship formed between friends. On the show,Patrick Starcelebrates his friendship with SpongeBob through the gift of gum.

Ways to celebrate include giving your friends gifts you think they’ll treasure rather than something you enjoy yourself. (Patrick did not get this right the first time, giving SpongeBob a giant ball of chewed-up gum he thought was disgusting.)

source: people.com