9 Festive Fake TV Holidays

By
NBC

We love celebrating real holidays like Christmas and Hanukkah, but you know what's even more fun? Making up your own holidays to celebrate! Luckily, a ton of TV shows have already done the legwork by coming up with their own jolly traditions and festivities. And if there's anyone we trust to turn a made-up day into an event, it's sitcom and cartoon writers.

Get that Festivus pole out of the crawl space, deck yourself in blue and yellow and start ringing bells: It’s time to celebrate nine of our favorite TV holidays.


1. Festivus (Seinfeld)

It’s the Festivus for the rest of us! The parody holiday has become so popular that it’s now celebrated off-screen too. The secular celebration was created by George Costanza’s father as an alternative to the commercialization of Christmas, because that is 100 percent something Frank Costanza would do. It’s celebrated on Dec. 23 with an aluminum Festivus pole and a dinner full of glorious traditions like the "Airing of Grievances," where you get to tell all of your family members how much they disappointed you throughout the year, and "Feats of Strengths." So, let’s get started, because we have a lot of problems with you people...

2. Leap Day (30
Rock
)

The most over-the-top fake TV holiday is by far 30 Rock's lavish Leap Day. To celebrate, people get decked out in blue and yellow and fawn over a cheesy Leap Day movie starring Jim Carrey and Andie MacDowell. But the most ridiculous part of all is the Santa-like mascot, Leap Day William. This old man basically looks like a goofy version of Rich Uncle Pennybags-esque character, and he appears from Mariana Trench every four years to trade candy for children's tears. We can't wait for February 29, 2016!

NBC


3. Chrismukkah (The OC)

Seth Cohen created this Christmas-Hanukkah hybrid so he wouldn’t have to choose between his Protestant and Jewish roots. Seth explains it best: Chrismukkah is "eight days of presents, followed by one day of many presents." There’s also that whole family thing and lighting the menorah and Santa, but hey, gift after gift after gift!


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4. Treat Yo Self Day (Parks and Recreation)

It's no surprise that this holiday was created by Pawnee's most narcissistic residents, Donna and Tom. It’s our favorite holiday on the list because it can take place whenever you feel the need for a little pampering. Clothes? Fragrances? Massages? Mimosas? Fine leather goods? Treat yo self to it all! Because as Donna says, "It’s the best day of the year."


5. Freedom Day (Futurama)

Freedom, freedom, freedom, oy! This major Earthican event is the ultimate in self-indulgent holidays. The citizens of Earth get to freely express themselves by doing whatever they want without consequence and relax in traditional Freedom hot tubs -- sans bathing suits, naturally. There's even a yearly parade in Washington, D.C., followed by fireworks and a speech from the President of Earth. Leave it to Futurama to take Independence Day to the extreme.


6. Festival of the Bells (Fraggle Rock)

From mini bells rung in unison to the dance of the Weebabeast, this holiday is a hippie's good vibes dream. Legend has it that the Rock slows down every Winter Solstice. In order to keep it moving for another year, the residents of Fraggle Rock have an annual bell-ringing ceremony to wake up the Great Bell at the Rock’s heart. They also sing, dance and gift each with the same pebble over and over again. Weeba weeba!


7. Refrigerator Day (Dinosaurs)

Fridge Day celebrates the greatest achievement known to the dinosaurs: the refrigerator. If it weren't for this incredible invention, dinos like the Sinclair family would still have to roam for food. Instead, they got to settle down in the ‘burbs. Just like Christmas, Fridge Day includes presents, decorations and carols that help promote commercialized goods. Pangea and America -- not that different, even after millions of years!


8. Yaksmas Eve (Ren & Stimpy)

Much like Fridge Day, Yaksmas is also a Christmas satire. The major difference here is that Stimpy believes Yaksmas is a real holiday while Ren thinks it’s just silly. It’s a glorious evening, with the night air smelling of hope and sausages as Stimpy waits anxiously for Stinky Wizzleteats and the Shaven Yak to visit -- just like Santa! Traditions include laying out wrinkled chicken livers for Ol' Saint Wizzleteats and noshing on meat by-products and pre-chewed gum before exchanging gifts on Yaksmas morning. Happy happy joy joy, indeed!


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9. Best Friends Day (SpongeBob SquarePants)

The Nickelodeon cartoon made up dozens of goofy holidays, from Annoy Squidward Day to National No Patrick Day, but the most delightful of them all is Best Friends Day. The simple premise involves exchanging gifts with your BFF. In Patrick’s case that meant giving SpongeBob a giant ball of gum named Gummy that was full of moldy pizza, gym socks and people. That’s what friends are for!

In the immortal words of SpongeBob’s narrator, "Every day is a holiday for SpongeBob, even if he has to make one up." Amen.

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Happy real and fake holiday time, everyone!