Orlando International Airport encourages flyers to air grievances on Festivus, the fictional ‘Seinfeld’ holiday
It’s Festivus for fed-up flyers as long as they keep their moves PG.
The Orlando International Airport (MCO) set up a comment box with a pen and paper where annoyed travelers could submit “airing of grievances” Saturday alongside a traditional Festivus pole inspired by an episode of “Seinfeld.”
“For those that celebrate today’s date, please join us for the ‘Festivus for the rest of us,’” read the poster set up in the airport on Dec. 23 – the annual day for the unofficial holiday.
“Please use the comment box for the Airing of Grievances,” it stated, in reference to one of the main traditions associated with the non-secular, fictitious holiday.
The bustling Florida terminal only asked patrons to please not bust a move on the unadorned metal pole — the anti-commercial alternative to a Christmas tree in Festivus lore — noting it was not for pole dancing.
“Please do not climb on the Festivus Pole,” the message read. “The Festivus Pole is not a Dancing Pole.”
Festivus has grown in popularity after it was introduced on a Dec. 18, 1997 episode of the sitcom “Seinfeld.” In the episode titled “The Stike,” George Costanza’s (Jason Alexander) father, Frank, (the late Jerry Stiller) created the unusual observance with its own specific set of traditions in a fight against Christmas commercialization.
One tradition is called the “feats of strength” and involves a wrestling match with the head of the household.
The airport requested travelers refrain from that holiday activity in its note.
And MCO insisted travelers not take a swing on the pole that appropriately lacked tinsel because as Frank would say, it’s “distracting.”
“It’s got a very high strength-to-weight ratio and no tinsel!” the airport tweeted in a nod to the metal beam used by the elder Costanza in lieu of a Christmas tree.
Social media users voiced compliments as well as tongue-in-cheek complaints over the single-day fixture.
“I got a lot of problems with you people … and you’re gonna hear about it!!.”one user tweeted. “(Not actually you, @MCO).”
“My grievance is that I missed,” another user wrote with the crying face emoji.
In the fine print of a poster, the airport made clear the celebration was a “source of homage, parody, satire, and humor.”
“If you’re still reading this, we hope your day is full of Festivus Miracles!” the signage concluded.
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