A Festivus party for the rest of us

When Kramer answers a call from two sleazy betting-window men from a racetrack who have called Elaine's fake phone number at the H & H Bagel Shop, where Kramer is on strike but using the bathroom, Kramer invites them to the Costanza Festivus celebration, where he is meeting Elaine.

"It's a Festivus miracle!" Kramer declares with enthusiasm over the coincidence.

Though this typically convoluted "Seinfeld" situation won't be part of tonight's Festivus celebration at Flathead Lake Brewing Co., owner Terry Leonard is still hoping for a few Festivus miracles.

Festivus is a "holiday" inspired by a 1997 "Seinfeld" episode, "The Strike." In the program's usual manner of intertwining plots and unlikely coincidences, the episode ends with a diverse cast of characters - the Seinfeld regulars (Jerry, Elaine, George and Kramer), George's boss at Kruger Industrial Smoothing, a "two-face" woman who is dating Jerry, and the two unsavory betting-window workers - meeting up at the Costanzas for Festivus.

Frank Costanza told Kramer he invented the celebration in response to a struggle with another man during a Christmas past over a doll he wanted to buy for George.

"As I rained blows upon him, I realized there had to be another way.

"Out of that, a new holiday was born … a Festivus for the rest of us!"

There will be no blows exchanged at tonight's local Festivus party. Even the "Feats of Strength," a crucial element of the Festivus celebration, have been nixed by Leonard's insurance company.

"You don't have to pin the head of the family before it can be over," Leonard said, referring to the traditional Festivus grand finale.

But the other staples of Festivus will be present - Dec. 23 is the traditional date; the unadorned aluminum Festivus pole will be set up; the traditional meal of meatloaf and spaghetti will be served.

Wagner Companies in Milwaukee offers a Festivus pole kit, ($38 plus shipping for the 6-foot floor model), but Leonard believes a homemade pole is the traditional way to go. His search for the perfect pole led him to a local hardware store, and he mounted his find in a tin bucket.

And the Festivus "Airing of the Grievances," when everyone shares how others have disappointed them throughout the year, will be not only celebrated but amplified.

"We'll have a sound system set up," Leonard said. "We'll be airing grievances in public and on stage."

Festivus was not entirely a creation of the "Seinfeld" writers. The father of one of the show's writers, Daniel O'Keefe, had created his own Festivus holiday in 1966. And a book by Allen Salkin, ""Festivus: The Holiday for the Rest of Us," claims that Festivus was observed in ancient Rome.

Although the final episode of "Seinfeld" aired in 1998, the Festivus holiday still is gaining steam. Salkin's book, with a foreword by Jerry Stiller (Frank Costanza), was released in October and "The Real Festivus" by O'Keefe, with an introduction by Jason Alexander (George Costanza), came out in November.

There are countless Web sites featuring Festivus, a California wine has been created especially for the day and Festivus celebrations are now held throughout the country, with varying degrees of loyalty to the "Seinfeld" model and a wide range of debauchery.

Leonard said he and some of his friends and employees still are devoted to "Seinfeld." Reruns keep Leonard and millions of diehard fans in tune with its comic sensibilities.

"I don't have every episode memorized, but I'm a big enough fan that it doesn't matter if I've seen the episode 1,000 times," he said. 'If it comes on, I'm not going to turn it off."

All are invited when the serving of the Festivus meal begins at 3 p.m. today. The food is free and an "Airing of the Grievances" worksheet will be provided.

Leonard is adding his own twist to the festivities, with bluegrass music provided by the HogCallers from 4 to 8 p.m., when the brewery is required to wrap things up.

Flathead Lake Brewing Co. is at 26008 East Lake Shore Drive, on the east side of Flathead Lake at Woods Bay.

Call 837-0353 for more information.

Reporter Heidi Gaiser may be reached at 758-4431 or by e-mail at hgaiser@dailyinterlake.com.