In the United States, there is an unofficial occasion called Festivus. It became known through the TV show Seinfeld, but the idea behind it exists beyond television comedy.
Festivus is observed on December 23. There are no gifts, no decorations, and no pressure to be cheerful. Instead, it centers on something unusual called the Airing of Grievances, where people openly say how others disappointed them during the year.
For Filipinos trying to visualize it, Festivus is often compared to an open forum—but the comparison only works on the surface.
In the Philippines, open forums usually have moderators and clear boundaries. You cannot openly humiliate someone. The goal is dialogue, not exposure. These forums are common in schools or youth groups, and they happen when needed, not as an annual tradition.
Festivus removes all of that structure. There is no moderator, no requirement to be constructive, and no expectation of resolution. People speak in front of everyone, the awkwardness is intentional, and the gathering simply moves on.
That difference alone explains why Festivus does not translate well to the Philippines.
Filipino culture places strong value on hiya, pakikisama, and protecting dignity. Public correction, especially without boundaries, is easily experienced as shaming. Instead of reflection, it triggers defensiveness or silence that lasts longer than the conversation itself.
What Festivus treats as satire, Filipino culture experiences as social risk.
In theory, Festivus promotes honesty. In practice, done locally, it would likely result in offended egos, no one admitting fault, and relationships quietly weakening.
This is not because Filipinos cannot handle truth. It is because truth is expected to be delivered with care.
In the Philippines, correction works best when done privately. One-on-one conversations preserve respect. Being right matters less than how and where something is said.
Some traditions are interesting to observe from a distance. Not all of them are meant to travel.
⌨ ᴛʸᵖⁱⁿᵍ ᴏᵘᵗ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰᵉ ʙˡᵘᵉ ᵈᵃʳᵉᵐ ᵐᵘˢⁱᶜ ᵇˡᵒᵍ
