By: Chaz Stevens
Move over, o Christmas tree, and make way for the Festivus pole.
What started as a “Seinfeld” storyline has become not only an emerging holiday, but a trendy political statement. The holiday’s key features – an aluminum pole in place of a tree, feats of strength instead of carols by the fire, an airing of grievances instead of a gift exchange – seem to resonate with a cynical America. Many are glad there is, thanks to Frank Costanza, “a Festivus for the rest of us.”
Author and Activist Chaz Stevens with the Festivus pole at the Florida State Capital
On December 11, 2013, the State of Florida gave me permission to install a 6-foot-tall Festivus pole made from emptied Pabst Blue Ribbon beer cans, as my not-so-subtle protest to the recent placement of a Christian nativity scene.
Over the new few weeks, a media frenzy ensued, with both national and international reporting. The pole was *everywhere*, seen by millions and millions of folks. For two-days, it was a top Twitter trending hashtag.
“I am so outraged by this,” Carlson told Catholic League President Bill Donohue. “Why do I have to drive around with my kids to look for a nativity scenes and be, like, ‘Oh, yeah, kids, look, there’s baby Jesus behind the Festivus pole made out of beer cans! It’s nuts!”
To which the Daily Show’s Jon Stewart replied, “Why are you driving around looking for nativity scenes in a car, when you could just bring your kids to where you work, where you put a giant nativity scene out on the plaza?”
Then, there’s Stephen Colbert, “In addition to the nativity scene, the Florida state capitol has a Festivus pole, a menorah and a monument to the Aztec snake god, Governor Rick Scott.”
Seinfeld writer, and inventor of the Festivus episode Dan O’Keefe noted, “Am I to understand that some humanoid expressed outrage that the baby Jesus was behind a pole made of beer cans?”
So, now’s your chance to own a unique piece of American History.
The Pabst Blue Ribbon Festivus Pole will be carefully packed and shipped via UPS Ground. I will pay for all shipping costs, with the entire proceeds of this auction to benefit South Florida’s Women in Distress.
High bidder takes all.
Want to place your bid on the Festivus Pole? Then go to the Ebay auction here: Original Pabst Blue Ribbon Festivus Pole — Seen on Colbert, Daily Show, and Fox Hurry – Auction ends in one week.
