On Mon, 22 Dec 1997, Thomas W. Culliney wrote:
> The origins of Festivus are obscure. It generally is thought that the
> beginnings of the holiday can be traced to the early peoples of Asia
> Minor, where it evolved from festivals marking the advent of the winter
> solstice. From there, the observance spread to Persia and other parts of
> west Asia. The holiday is mentioned in the writings of the Greek historian
 
And all this time I thought it was something made up for last week's
Seinfeld episode.  Is there anything in the Seinfeld show that bares any
relation to the true Festivus?
 
        Rich
 
 
> Eurypterides, in connection with the Atlantis legend, leading some
> scholars to place the origins of Festivus much further back in antiquity.
> The Roman, Flatus the Elder, writing in the 2nd century B.C., suggested
> that the celebration was Etruscan in origin. In any case, the observance
> of Festivus was firmly entrenched in southern Europe by about 200 B.C.
> (the name Festivus derives from the Latin for "party hardy"), subsequently
> spreading northward among the various Celtic tribes early in the first
> millennium A.D.; in the process, the festival became imbued with new
> rituals and symbols (e.g., the Festivus pole). Generally banned in
> Europe during the dark ages because of its pagan origins, Festivus was
> revived in the more open intellectual climate of the Renaissance. The
> holiday made its way to North America during the great era of European
> colonization in the 17th and 18th centuries. Some modern thinkers suggest
> that Festivus, with its nonsensical customs and lack of foundation in any
> recognizable religion, is the perfect holiday for a secular age. (The
> American Civil Liberties Union thus far has not seen fit to challenge the
> few municipalities that have put up Festivus displays on public property.)
>
> In keeping with the spirit of this season of hope and good vibes,
> whatever your persuasion, inclination, delusion, or direction in life,
> may you have a merry Christmas, happy Chanukah, remarkable Ramadan, kool
> Kwanza, and/or, of course, a festive Festivus.
>
> *************************************************************************
> Tom Culliney    Hawaii Dept. of Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry,
> 1428 South King St., Honolulu, HI 96814, U.S.A.
> E-mail: [log in to unmask]
> Telephone: 808-973-9528
> FAX: 808-973-9533
>
> "To a rough approximation and setting aside vertebrate chauvinism, it can
>    be said that essentially all organisms are insects."--R.M. May (1988)
> "Bugs are not going to inherit the earth. They own it now. So we might as
>    well make peace with the landlord."--T. Eisner (1989)
>