28 Years Ago Today, Seinfeld Popularized a New Holiday (and It Was Based on Real Life)

When Frank enthusiastically explains Festivus to Kramer, it seems so unusual you’d think it was invented for the show. But, like many classic Seinfeld episodes, “The Strike” is based on a true story. Festivus is a real holiday created by Daniel O’Keefe, the father of Seinfeld writer Dan O’Keefe, to commemorate his first date with his wife. Dan O’Keefe initially didn’t want to write an episode about it, almost forgetting it like a difficult memory, but the rest of the writing team convinced him to move forward.








