Festivus at a Distance
In the immediate aftermath of the COVID-19 Lockdowns of 2020, as the future of in-person gatherings was unclear, the Forum Festivus Authority determined that the best possible invitation would be one that could be received physically by all members while still embodying the principles of the lockdown.
As such, a summons was issued.
The goal with this invitation was to see how real the experience could feel while still being recognizably parodical. Familiar seals and sigils from the 2018 season were used as well as scannable barcodes.
The physical production of the invites required stamps and a level of interactivity, provided by a coin-scratch sticker placed over the named-recipient's identity.
Summons were stamped, sent by mail through the USPS, and received at each member's personal mailing address, resulting in more than one individual believing they had truly been summoned for Jury Duty.
Using templates derived from real Jury Duty summons, the invitations were made with great attention to detail in order to appear authentic and legitimate.
As the year’s events continued, it became increasingly clear that an in-person Festivus celebration was likely not possible.
As such, more guiding materials were created in order to keep members looped in on plans regarding gifting and attendance.
A hotly anticipated rematch between Feat of Strength contenders resulted in the creation of this poster. Unfortunately, like almost every event that year, the Feat of Strength had to be changed to a remote competition.
As the holiday approached, with many members still unclear about the proceedings or unprepared, a firm yet cordial reminder was sent to all members. This graceful message was followed by a list of all members and their mailing addresses.
The pandemic resulted in a widespread loneliness epidemic, highlighting the need for togetherness and inclusion. As such, the Forum Festivus Authority resolved to swap to a digital format so all members could feel the holiday spirit.
The Feat of Strength was formulated in order that remote members could easily be included. This rule guide was sent to all members.