‘Tis the season for Christmas trees, Hannukah menorahs and buying gifts, and that’s all well and good for most people — but what about the rest of us? Those of us tired of the commercialism of Christmas, who are annoyed by tinsel, or have a pile of grievances in need of airing? For the rest of us, there is, of course, Festivus.

This anti-capitalist holiday was born from the comedy sitcom Seinfeld, when scriptwriter Dan O’Keefe, drawing from his real-life experiences with his father, included the idea into the Seinfeld holiday episode “The Strike” in 1997.

Seinfeld Release Date July 5, 1989 Seasons 9

Like many Seinfeld episodes, this one had four separate plots involving each character: Jerry, Elaine, George and Kramer, which came together at the end during the hilarious Festivus dinner hosted by George’s family. The combination of all four in the setting of this absurd fictional holiday, which has since become a real holiday, made for one of the best Seinfeld episodes ever made, and the funniest holiday episode from any TV show.

What Happens in the Episode “The Strike”
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The Seinfeld episode “The Strike” was the 10th episode of the ninth and last season of the show. It featured four separate stories, which coalesced at the end, during the Festivus dinner celebration.

Jerry meets a woman who, like all women he tries to date, has something wrong with her: she has “two-face,” meaning she looks gorgeous in good lighting, and terrible — like another person entirely — in bad lighting. When she arrives at the Festivus dinner, she accuses him of dating someone else, after Kramer mistook her “bad” face for an entirely different person.

George, in the opposite spirit of Festivus, is obsessed with the exchange of gifts at work. He receives a card as a present, which says his gift was a donation to a charity. Frustrated and then inspired, George hands out similar cards, except they are made out to the fake “Human Fund” with the tagline “Money for people.” As Jerry says, “It has a certain understated stupidity.” When his boss discovers his lie, George pretends to have hidden his real religion out of shame: that of Festivus. And, demanding proof, his boss is invited to their Festivus dinner.

Related: Seinfeld Star Jason Alexander Wishes Everyone a Happy Festivus

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Elaine, in a desperate effort to earn a free bad sub, is trying to get a man to call her, so she can get her free-sub card back. Dodging numerous numbers for years, she finally crosses paths with the business that owns the fake number she always gives out — and everyone there gets to put a face to the name and years of calls. In a true Festivus Miracle, two of the creepy men wanting her number are invited to the Festivus dinner by Kramer.

And Kramer, after being on strike for 12 years, finally gets his job at a bagel shop back again. The strike (hence the name of the episode) is over, until the owner won’t acknowledge Kramer’s Festivus religious observation, and he goes back on strike again.

Why This Is the Funniest Holiday Episode of All Time
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On the one hand, it’s Seinfeld — one of the greatest shows ever made. Any other holiday episode can’t really compare, not even Monica from Friends with a raw turkey on her head. Created by comedic titans Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, this “show about nothing” had its own unique style. The jazzy opening bass line, the bizarre antics and situations, and the culmination of separate storylines into the absurd ending of each episode made for a signature series that is considered by some as the funniest show of all time.

This episode in particular was comedic genius. Each story, as described above, is already funny, with great moments like George being confronted about the fake “Human Fund,” and Elaine also being confronted by the betting parlor that is her go-to fake number. Kramer goes on strike like a natural at the bagel store, picketing outside. And the acting talents of guest stars Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), Kevin McDonald (Kids in the Hall) and, of course, Jerry Stiller as Frank, bolster the hilarity of each scene.

But like most episodes, it’s the way each plotline is brought together at the end that makes it so funny, and one of the best episodes of the entire show. The Festivus dinner scene at the end is, of course, the most quoted part. Frank Costanza steals the show, with lines like: “I got a lot of problems with you people, and now you’re gonna hear about it!” and “Stop crying and fight your father!”

It’s a wonder that the cast doesn’t break character and laugh (and maybe they did, off-screen) as Frank strips off his sweater to wrestle George, shouting, “This is the best Festivus ever!” while everyone around him drowns in their misery.

What Is the Anti-Capitalist Holiday Festivus?

Festivus came from the idea of writer Daniel O’Keefe, whose father was a lot like Frank, except Irish, and from New Jersey. There was no aluminum pole originally, and it wasn’t set around Christmas — the real version, before Seinfeld, was a random event that took place when O’Keefe’s father felt like it. And the airing of grievances was definitely a part of it.

Like George, O’Keefe tried to pretend his father’s weird made-up holiday didn’t exist. But when it came time to write this episode, he brought the idea up, and the writers added some flair, an aluminum pole, and a few miracles sprinkled into the tale. They didn’t think it would take off quite like it did — otherwise they would have named the episode “Festivus,” as many of them now wish they’d done.

The Five Rules of Festivus
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There are five observances of this secular and sardonic holiday:

The Festivus Pole: Instead of a tree, Festivus has an aluminum pole — bland, unadorned with any ornaments (and especially not tinsel), and with a good “strength-to-weight ratio.” The pole can be stared at, though enjoying it might be too much to ask.

Festivus Dinner: The traditional meal would be a hefty meatloaf, on a bed of lettuce. O’Keefe’s family celebration was originally over turkey or ham, so bending this rule is probably okay. But meatloaf is preferred — just to be safe.

The Airing of Grievances: With everyone gathered round the meatloaf dinner, the “airing of grievances” can begin. It is an essential part of Festivus, and a part that the Scrooges and Grinches among us especially love. Each person takes a turn venting their problems with others or with the world. This cathartic part of Festivus is essential.

Related: Seinfeld: The Funniest Episodes Featuring George’s Parents

Feats of Strength: After the dinner (and hopefully when people aren’t too full), the head of the household challenges someone at the table to a feat of strength: a wrestling match that isn’t over until the challenger is pinned. Considering the vague name, other feats of strength may be accepted: arm wrestling, thumb wrestling, or even (according to the official Festivus website) playing board games. Refusing the feat of strength, if one is chosen, is discouraged — but technically allowed.

Festivus Miracles: Yes, this is a secular holiday, but that doesn’t mean Festivus can’t have miracles. A Festivus miracle can be anything good that happens on Festivus. Traffic was smooth on the way home? A Festivus Miracle! A relative was able to make it to dinner? A Festivus Miracle! An old sweater only had three moth holes in it? You guessed it — a Festivus Miracle.

Why Is Festivus So Popular?
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The episode, and the holiday, was notable and hilarious enough that Festivus took off instantly: by the year 2000, only three years after airing, Super Bowl coach Brian Billick was calling the playoff game “Festivus Maximus.” By 2005, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle proudly had his own Festivus pole in his living room (despite being started in New York, Festivus does have a very midwestern feel to it). And by 2010, there were custom Google search results, a multitude of articles, and the holiday was (and still is) trending on Twitter.

Today, Festivus is celebrated by thousands of people — there is even a petition to make it an official national holiday (and alongside National Bagel Day and National Boss’s Day, why not?). Festivus seems to tap into an inherent discontent in America with the growing commercialization of Christmas, evident even in the late ’90s.

Black Friday deaths were on the rise at the time, as people stampeded over others and fought tooth and nail for material goods, and, like many of us, Frank Costanza became fed up with it all. As he told Kramer:

Many Christmases ago, I went to buy a doll for my son. I reached for the last one they had — but so did another man. As I rained blows upon him, I realized there had to be another way!

And thus, Festivus was born. Taking place on December 23rd of each year, just days before Christmas when most people are frantically putting together gifts and doing last-minute shopping and prep for cooking, it can be an incredibly cathartic event to celebrate.

Many frustrated and stressed people take to social media each year to air their grievances, or simply wish others a Happy Festivus and maybe share a Festivus miracle or two. Whatever your reasons, prepare the meatloaf, gaze in apathy at the aluminum pole, and remember — it isn’t over until the head of the family is pinned.