The Holidays Don't Have to Be Over Quite Yet

It was precisely on the third day of the year that we began to feel the familiar pang of boredom—that reliable affliction that resurfaces seasonally, and always when we're away from campus. Unless you're kicking it on the beach or adventuring through the mountains somewhere, chances are you're just as bored of winter break as we are. After all, sleeping in till late afternoon and eating a questionable diet is glorious for only so many weeks before it gets old.

We always wondered what we should do during the second half of break, once the holiday season has faded away. Luckily for you, we found an answer in the 90s sitcom Seinfeld. We bring you Festivus, your new favorite atypical holiday "for the rest of us."

The Story of Festivus: Featured in the Seinfeld episode "The Strike," (as if we Harvardians haven't had enough of strikes) Festivus is an alternative winter holiday traditionally celebrated on Dec. 23. If you missed it this year, don’t worry—flout this "deadline" just as readily as many of you have apparently flouted the deadline to register for Harvard Key. After all, Mr. Costanza created the holiday to cover up his failure to buy George a Christmas present (a position many of us were in, no doubt).

The Festivus Pole: The joyless alternative to a Christmas tree. Rest an aluminum pole in the corner of the dining room to bring some Festivus spirit to your party. But ditch the tinsel and ornaments—the Costanza family rejected the unnecessary byproducts of “ commercialism.”

Airing of Grievances: The true cornerstone of Festivus. Every attendee must direct a “grievance” (complaint) at someone who has wronged them in the past year. Take this opportunity to purge a year’s worth of anger. You’d be surprised how real this can get. Just think of it as your #festivusclapback

Feats of Strength: No one can leave the party until the head of the household has been pinned. Nominate one attendee to tackle the host to the ground. Watch the ensuing chaos with holiday glee.