GEORGETOWN — Baxter’s Brewhouse Inn embraces stupidity.
Georgetown businesses celebrated the festival on Dec. 23 for the second year in a row.
The festival featured in the hit sitcom “Seinfeld” is a fake holiday that is always set two days before Christmas. The day of celebration, noted as “a festival for the rest of us,” was devised by Jerry Stiller’s character Frank, George Constanza’s father. Stiller’s character came up with the idea years ago after getting fed up with the commercialization of the holiday season. His epiphany came comically one Christmas after he got into a fight with another man over a toy doll in a store.
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This day represents a reprieve from other holidays typically celebrated in December and includes some unique traditions.
“It’s one of those funny things that people like,” said Joseph Baxter, co-owner of the brewery and inn. “I think that might be part of the appeal of stupidity and being Festive so you can do whatever you want. Who cares?”
This week, Joseph and Tina Baxter opened their doors to Seinfeld holiday lovers with a plate of meatloaf, peas, and gravy (a nod to the festival meal served on the show) and a holiday-themed They served the named Honey Brown Ale. Outside was a metal pole, a Festive version of a Christmas tree.
Baxter’s brewmaster Bill Dibben said he enjoys celebrating the holiday each year, quoting scenes from the iconic episode on Facebook, sharing meals with friends and celebrating. His example is drinking alcohol.
“I always felt like there’s Christmas Eve, there’s Christmas Day, and the last day before that, two days before, I’m going to do something on that day. Don’t work, take that day off. Let’s do something fun.”
The closure of the Georgetown paper mill hurt her friends. So she got presents for all the 8th graders.
And so that became this holiday, a day to relax and enjoy a little goofy fun before the inevitable stresses of the season.
The holiday also calls for “expressing grievances,” such as telling family and friends about all the things that have disappointed you that year. Joseph Baxter made sure that when people walked in the door, they shared their personal grievances with his family, no matter what they were.
Although the show ended more than 25 years ago, festival celebrations are still held across the country, Joseph said. He attributes the holiday’s enduring popularity to the show’s lighthearted nature, which made it easy to empathize with the characters.
