{"id":489,"date":"2016-12-05T15:51:49","date_gmt":"2016-12-05T21:51:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/?p=489"},"modified":"2017-06-30T17:39:25","modified_gmt":"2017-06-30T22:39:25","slug":"lynns-family-festivus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/lynns-family-festivus\/","title":{"rendered":"Lynn&#8217;s Family Festivus"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_493\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-493\" style=\"width: 1270px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/battle-royale.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-493\" src=\"https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/battle-royale.jpg\" alt=\"Festivus wasn't over until a spirited Battle-Royale with cardboard wrapping paper tubes took place.\" width=\"1280\" height=\"822\" srcset=\"https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/battle-royale.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/battle-royale-300x193.jpg 300w, https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/battle-royale-768x493.jpg 768w, https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/battle-royale-1024x658.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/battle-royale-860x552.jpg 860w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-493\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Festivus wasn&#8217;t over until a spirited Battle-Royale with cardboard wrapping paper tubes took place.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Last year, something happened to Lynn\u2019s family that changed them in a deep and profound way.\u00a0 They celebrated Festivus.<\/p>\n<p>Well, maybe that\u2019s an exaggeration\u2026<\/p>\n<p>To be clear, Lynn\u2019s family also celebrates Christmas, but for one evening last year Lynn ensconced the Christmas tree in a black \u201cshroud\u201d and her husband Dave put up an unadorned aluminum pole. Then they invited their two sons, two daughter-in-laws and one grandson for an evening of fun and frivolity.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cInitially, the kids were surprised to see the Christmas tree shrouded in black,\u201d Lynn explained.\u00a0 \u201cMy sons are big fans of Seinfeld, and they know all the lines from the episodes, so they know all about Festivus. I think they were mainly interested to see how much \u2018Festivus\u2019 their Mom could cram into a single evening.\u201d<\/p><div class=\"festi-after-4-paragraphs\" id=\"festi-1076002775\"><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- FestivusWeb Responsive -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3297689279938125\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"3697394480\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><\/div>\n<figure id=\"attachment_497\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-497\" style=\"width: 256px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/pez-and-teacups.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-497 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/pez-and-teacups-266x300.jpg\" alt=\"pez-and-teacups\" width=\"266\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/pez-and-teacups-266x300.jpg 266w, https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/pez-and-teacups-768x866.jpg 768w, https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/pez-and-teacups.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 266px) 100vw, 266px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-497\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Pez, Play Doh and teacups are on the dinner table.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>They must have been impressed, as Lynn managed to host a Festivus-o-plenty. For example, the dining table was festooned with Pez dispensers and each place setting sported a container of Play Doh, ready for a fun sculpting contest. As an appetizer, Lynn provided marble rye bread with a big block of cheese the size of a small car battery.<\/p>\n<p>The meal featured a \u201cbig salad\u201d, followed by meatloaf on a bed of lettuce with a side dish of peas, served almost as authentically as Estelle Costanza did in the <em>Seinfeld<\/em> episode \u201cThe Strike\u201d.\u00a0 Also on the table was champagne and merlot, the first being a reference to the O\u2019Keefe Festivus and the latter a reference to <em>Seinfeld<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, the amount of references to both the O\u2019Keefe and the Seinfeld versions of Festivus is noteworthy.<\/p>\n<p>Lynn explained that she picked what she liked from the different Festivi, both O\u2019Keefe and Seinfeld, and then came up with a formula that would be fun for her family. She even made a chart and planned the event down to the last Pez dispenser.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_502\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-502\" style=\"width: 290px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/music-selection.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-502 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/music-selection-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Lynn's &quot;classic&quot; music collection was put to good use.\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/music-selection-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/music-selection-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/music-selection-768x771.jpg 768w, https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/music-selection-1020x1024.jpg 1020w, https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/music-selection-330x330.jpg 330w, https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/music-selection-860x863.jpg 860w, https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/music-selection.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-502\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lynn&#8217;s &#8220;classic&#8221; music collection was put to good use.<\/figcaption><\/figure><div class=\"festi-mid-content\" id=\"festi-251548786\"><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- FestivusWeb Responsive -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3297689279938125\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"3697394480\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><\/div>\n<p>Another O\u2019Keefe-ism that Lynn included was how everybody was coaxed into creating hat accoutrements out of tinfoil; all done while Lynn played classic 80s audio cassettes, including \u201cBilly Joel\u2019s Greatest Hits\u201d.\u00a0 Both of these references were mentioned in Dan O\u2019Keefe\u2019s 2005 book \u201cThe Real Festivus\u201d, and repeated in 2015\u2019s \u201cFestivus! The Book\u201d.\u00a0 In fact, one of Lynn&#8217;s sons even donned his \u201cCub Scouts&#8217;\u201d hat in another homage to the O\u2019Keefe Festivus and husband Dave also attempted to make Viking horns for his cap, this time a complex cross-homage to another event mentioned in O\u2019Keefe\u2019s book and to Lynn\u2019s Icelandic heritage.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, Lynn didn\u2019t just include known Festivus references, as she made up some rules of her own.\u00a0 For example, there was a rule that everyone was to drink from teacups. \u201cEverything that was drunk was drunk from teacups,\u201d Lynn explained. \u201cSome were my mother\u2019s teacups and some were Dave\u2019s grandmother\u2019s. They were all family heirlooms.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_495\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-495\" style=\"width: 222px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/cardboard-carnage.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-495 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/cardboard-carnage-232x300.jpg\" alt=\"Cardboard carnage.\" width=\"232\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/cardboard-carnage-232x300.jpg 232w, https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/cardboard-carnage-768x993.jpg 768w, https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/cardboard-carnage-792x1024.jpg 792w, https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/cardboard-carnage.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 232px) 100vw, 232px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-495\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cardboard carnage.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Later in the evening, the feats of strength began with a vintage \u201cBattling Tops\u201d game. Later, things began to heat up when a huge Battle Royale with Christmas paper wrapping tubes was held. After a spirited sword fight, all that was left was a pile of cardboard carnage at the base of the Festivus pole.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe kids thought the battle with the wrapping paper tubes was too violent,\u201d Lynn laughed. \u201cBut they sure seemed to enjoy it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>When asked why she decided to host a family Festivus, Lynn explained, \u201cIt had been a rotten year and I didn\u2019t feel like celebrating Christmas, so I decided to celebrate something different.\u00a0 We still did Christmas, but we didn\u2019t really celebrate it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe best thing about Festivus was having my family together and having fun.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Finally, it should be noted that the family also regifted presents. Lynn found a tacky music box featuring two cats at a thrift store as her contribution to the regift exchange.\u00a0 Of course, grievances were aired in her direction as she was accused of purchasing the gift, but all was forgiven once her grandson Liam decided that the music box was the cat\u2019s meow.<\/p>\n<p>Another Festivus miracle!<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_499\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-499\" style=\"width: 1270px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/lynn-and-dave.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-499\" src=\"https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/lynn-and-dave.jpg\" alt=\"Dave and Lynn abiding by the \u201cteacup\u201d rule. Note the hats and the tinfoil accoutrements.\" width=\"1280\" height=\"987\" srcset=\"https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/lynn-and-dave.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/lynn-and-dave-300x231.jpg 300w, https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/lynn-and-dave-768x592.jpg 768w, https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/lynn-and-dave-1024x790.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/lynn-and-dave-860x663.jpg 860w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-499\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dave and Lynn abiding by the \u201cteacup\u201d rule. Note the hats and the tinfoil accoutrements.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_504\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-504\" style=\"width: 1270px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/battling-tops.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-504\" src=\"https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/battling-tops.jpg\" alt=\"A vintage &quot;Battling Tops&quot; game was well played.\" width=\"1280\" height=\"905\" srcset=\"https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/battling-tops.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/battling-tops-300x212.jpg 300w, https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/battling-tops-768x543.jpg 768w, https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/battling-tops-1024x724.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/battling-tops-860x608.jpg 860w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-504\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A vintage &#8220;Battling Tops&#8221; game was enjoyed by all.<\/figcaption><\/figure><div class=\"festi-mid-content-2\" id=\"festi-1867442571\"><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- FestivusWeb Responsive -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3297689279938125\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"3697394480\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"festi-content-placement\" id=\"festi-1059545703\"><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- FestivusWeb Responsive -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3297689279938125\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"3697394480\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Last year, something happened to Lynn\u2019s family that changed them in a deep and profound way.\u00a0 They celebrated Festivus. Well, maybe that\u2019s an exaggeration\u2026 To be clear, Lynn\u2019s family also celebrates Christmas, but for one evening last year Lynn ensconced the Christmas tree in a black \u201cshroud\u201d and her husband Dave put up an unadorned &#8230; <a title=\"Lynn&#8217;s Family Festivus\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/lynns-family-festivus\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Lynn&#8217;s Family Festivus\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":493,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-489","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-festivus"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/489","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=489"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/489\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":603,"href":"https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/489\/revisions\/603"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/493"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=489"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=489"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/festivusweb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=489"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}