As we prepare for Christmas and Hanukkah this week, let’s not forget the holiday of December 23: Festivus.

Consider Festivus your invitation to be a little grumpy this holiday season.

The invented holiday was first introduced to Americans in a 1997 episode from the sitcom “Seinfeld”, in which we learn that George Costanza’s father celebrates Festivus as an alternative to the traditional December celebrations which he considers too religious or commercial.

Traditional elements of the Festivus include the display of an unadorned aluminum pole (rather than a Christmas tree), “feats of strength” (which in the TV show primarily include wrestling), and the “broadcast of grievances.”

“I have a lot of problems with you,” shouts Frank Costanza at a Festivus dinner.

This year, we thought it might be cathartic to give Portlanders a chance to air some of their own grievances. We visited Christmas Snorkel Saturday at Pioneer Courthouse Square in Portland with a microphone and an aluminum pole.

From Traffic to Leaf Blowers to Total lack of snow in the forecastHere are the complaints we heard:

—Samantha Swindler covers features for The Oregonian/OregonLive and This is Oregon. Contact her at [email protected].

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