A favorite holiday for most camels, Festivus has transformed year after year since the tradition began here on campus. A sign of the semester ending, a classy meal in Harris and the transformation of Cro into a winter wonderland, it’s one of the most well-attended events each and every year.
It all started shortly after the holiday’s debut in the 1997 Seinfeld episode. A family tradition of the show’s screenwriter at the time, Dan O’Keefe, it is now annually celebrated on December 23rd as a secular holiday. The celebrated parody originated as an alternative to taking part in the commercialization of the holidays. Conn students, wanting to find a way to celebrate the holidays in a secular manner, decided to adopt the idea and thus Festivus began.
Starting out like most other events Festivus was just originally another themed dance. The first addition was the dinner in Harris. Now, Harris shuts down early each Festivus-afternoon to prepare for an evening of colorful napkin baskets and Andes mints on the tables. When it comes to the food served, the cooks produce a special menu each year full of steak, mashed potatoes and a whole counter of bread. The classy dinner always kicks off Festivus just right.
What makes Festivus such a trademark holiday for every Conn student are the traditions that continually get created along with it. The men’s cross country team, for example, sets the bar high with their Festivus tradition of well-over eight years. Each year the team gathers for dinner in Harris dressed in their holiday best. Staking out the long table along the side of Harris the boys practice one of Festivus’ signature traditions “the airing of grievances.” Following dinner the airing of grievances is a time to reflect on the year that has just passed, lashing out at others about what they have done that has been disappointing. One by one each member on the men’s team will stand and air their grievances about their teammates, following in tradition.
The Housfellows and Floor Governors have also created their own tradition. Each year respective areas of campus come together and decorate the common rooms to host an area party before the gala in Cro. More food, music and socializing, the area parties have become another trademark of the holiday. It not only brings together the staff but also the residents, encapsulating what Festivus, and the holidays, are essentially all about.
The last part of the Festivus celebration is the gala in Cro. Each class council and SAC comes together to host an event before the dance. This year, the theme was Candy Land, creating endless possibilities with what could be done. The Class of 2017 put together an amazing life-sized Candy Land game in the 1941 room. Life sized cut-outs, endless amounts of candy and exceptional decorations, the room came together and was a huge accomplishment for the Festivus rookies. The Class of 2016 rented a photo booth for people to enjoy. A staple of any Cro celebration, the line was long, the pictures were plenty and the class council could check off Festivus as a success. Class of 2015 transformed Cro’s Nest into a karaoke bar for people to get a little taste of holiday caroling. Janil Tejada ’13, the Festivus planning student at large, expressed that for her, the “highlight of the night was definitely karaoke.” The senior class put on a tremendous dance in the 1962 room with music by Conn’s very own RagTag. Although Rag could not be in attendance, Tag provided some incredible music throughout the evening.
The night was a success and everyone’s hard work clearly paid off.
Senior Chelsea Parish reflected back on her four years of celebrating saying that, “it’s a great event to get the entire school together before the end of the year.” Taylor Walsh-Serpico ’13 added that it’s “really great to have so many alumni come back each year for this weekend.” Although many seniors are heading off, many feel that no matter where they find themselves next December, they’ll be thinking about or celebrating Festivus themselves if they aren’t back here reliving it all.
The most important part of Festivus is its place on the calendar as the last weekend of the semester. Amidst the fury of finals, the freezing walks across campus and saying goodbye to friends before the much awaited month of relaxation, everyone can be found in Cro celebrating. It’s a break from work, a time to reminisce about the fall semester and a prelude to the spring. Recently described by a professor as “the Floralia of fall semester” it’s no doubt that the holiday will continue to be celebrated and grow each year as groups across campus start creating their own Festivus traditions. •
