Acknowledgement of Country: I would like to pay my respects to the First People: the traditional custodians of the lands and waterways of Wadawurrung Country. I would like to acknowledge that this event is being held on what always was, and always will be, Aboriginal land.
I am a Canberra geocacher and each year there are countless events across the Yuletide period in our geocaching community. Festivus is my annual contribution. Festivus is traditionally celebrated on the 23rd of December but this year our family is travelling to Geelong to be with our extended family for Christmas. This means my Canberra Festivus event will instead be held on the 20th. But with this comes an awesome opportunity to share Festivus with the Geelong geocaching community on the traditional 23 December date! I would love to meet you all and air our grievances together!
What is Festivus?
Many Christmases ago, I went to buy a doll for my son. I reach for the last one they had — but so did another man. 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! (Frank Costanza, 1997).
Festivus is a secular, fictional holiday created by TV character Frank Costanza (father of George) in the 90s sitcom, 'Seinfeld' - one of my all-time favourite shows. Festivus was celebrated in the 1997 Season 9 episode, 'The Strike'; and bizarrely, is based on the real-life holiday celebrations of the family of the episode's lead writer, Dan O'Keefe. In the episode, Festivus was celebrated on the 23rd of December; which is now the date widely accepted as Festivus. The holiday was created as an alternative to the stressful and commercial aspects of Christmas; however, Festivus has since had a large impact on popular culture in the real world. It is celebrated annually by fans of Seinfeld ironically and as a way for fans to celebrate the beloved TV series.
Event Info
To celebrate Festivus 2021, we will be meeting in Eastern Park on Thursday the 23rd of December between 5:30pm and 6:30pm. Our beloved geocaching friends suss vulture have recommended a good rotunda in the park to host this event (the posted coordinates). However, as it could be busy in the park at this time of the year we may need relocate to other locations in the park if need be. On the day make sure to check the logs and announcements on the event listing to see any updated coordinates for a new event site.
There are many strange traditions as part of Festivus; some of which we will be participating in as part of this geocaching-style Festivus event:
Aluminium Pole
As an alternative to the stressful and commerical aspects of Christmas, Festivus is celebrated with a plain aluminium pole as a direct contrast to a highly decorated Christmas tree (Frank Costanza found tinsel distracting).
For this event, we will have our very own plastic Festivus pole! Make sure to take many photos with the pole and post them to the event page!
Airing of Grievances
The Airing of Grievances is another Festivus tradition where you gather your family and friends and point out ALL THE WAYS THAT THEY HAVE DISAPPOINTED YOU OVER THE PAST YEAR.
At this event, as you're socialising with your fellow geocachers to discuss 2021, you may be able to use this time to vent some of your geocaching grievances. Were there potential FTFs that you were beaten to in 2021? Are there evil geocaches that you still can't find? Are there puzzles that you still can't solve? Did the pandemic (once again) ruin your geocaching travel plans? Vent it all out at this event!
The Human Fund
The Human Fund was the fake charity George Costanza made up during the Festivus episode. Rather than buying Christmas gifts or donating money in people's names to real charities (you know, normal decisions) he instead gave people cards saying "a donation in your name has been made to the Human Fund". The slogan of the Human Fund is just as pathetic: "Money for People". This is yet another reminder of how the show's comedy comes from how wrongly these characters assimilate into moral society.
A new segment of my Festivus geocaching events this year, the Human Fund is simply a name to call the trading of goods that many geocachers enjoy. This could be Travel Bugs, geocoins, travel tags, or any other geocaching-related tokens or items!
Festivus Miracle
"It's a Festivus Miracle!" Exclaimed by Kramer throughout Festivus whenever something amazing happened, even if it was easily explainable.
As part of this event, I will creating a Festivus miracle for someone - through a FTF raffle! Each team should sign the logbook when they arrive (also part of COVID-19 contract tracing); where each geocachi g name will be assigned a number. At roughly 6pm, I will make a speech about the event and COVID-19 protocols before randomly drawing a number on an app on my phone. The team associated with the number I call out will have their name written on the description of this event page; stating, for eternity, that they were the FTF of this event. Fitting with the theme of Festivus, there will be no commerical prizes for FTF; only a nice certificate and bragging rights!
COVID-19 Protocols (PLEASE READ)
- On arrival please scan the QR code and sign the logsheet with your name and contact details for contact tracing. If you later test positive for COVID-19 and health authorities inform you that event attendees are considered close or casual contacts, please contact me on 0498 968 994 as soon as possible so I can contact all the attendees. The logbook will be shreded 14 days after the event.
- Do not attend if you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and not recovered.
- Do not attend if you are unwell or have even the slightest symptoms of COVID-19.
- Do not attend if you are under a mandate by health authorities to quarantine.
- Sanitise your hands regularly; I am bringing some but you are encouraged to bring your own.
- Keep 1.5m social distancing where possible.
- Face masks and vaccinations are not mandatory but are encouraged.
- BYOP (bring your own pen); as all geocachers should!
***FTF honours goes to chooknchunk***