Advertisement

Festivus 2017: Send us your grievances

 
A scene from the "Seinfeld" Festivus episode, "The Strike." [Sony TV]
A scene from the "Seinfeld" Festivus episode, "The Strike." [Sony TV]
Published Dec. 19, 2017

When Seinfeld writer Dan O'Keefe penned the classic 1997 episode "The Strike" he probably had no idea people would be celebrating sitcom character Frank Costanza's made-up, anti-commercialization holiday nearly two decades later, but here we are.

A search of Facebook events shows Festivus celebrations planned across the country this month (including this local one at Friendly Tavern in Redington Shores).

If you're not familiar with Festivus, this video is a good primer, and festivusweb.com has details, the but here are the basics: there's an unadorned metal pole (because Frank finds tinsel distracting), feats of strength ("Festivus isn't over until you pin me"), and — most importantly — the airing of grievances, when people share their complaints for the preceding year.

As Costanza put it, "I've got a lot of problems with you people, and now you're going to hear about it."

Last year, we asked you to send us complaints from 2016, and people from all over the country delivered big time. You complained about the overuse of the word "amazing," the Florida winter heat, shopping carts, pumpkin spice cappuccino, the president and your brother-in-law Craig's birthday.

Now we want to hear about 2017.

Did your sports team blow its playoff hopes in an epic way? Did the networks cancel your favorite TV show? Maybe you had the first date from hell, your neighbor's dog yelped all night or your co-worker's lunch smelled up the office. What do strangers, your loved ones and businesses do that really irks you?

We want to hear about it all.

Submit grievances via the form below, and we'll publish a selection of them on or before Dec. 23, the traditional date of Festivus. Extra points for funny grievances that aren't about presidential politics. (You must enter a name that isn't obviously fake to be considered).