A six-foot-tall stack of empty beer cans, inspired by the sitcom “Seinfeld”, made a comeback to the Florida Capitol for a second year in a row, as it was unveiled on December 15. The Festivus pole, installed by Chaz Stevens, political blogger with Deerfield Beach, was located inside the first-floor hall across a rather elaborate nativity scene that was put up by a Christian group called Florida Prayer Network.
Festivus is a mock-festival that was conceived for the television show “Seinfeld”. As opposed to Christmas, Festivus defines itself as a non-commercial festival for the “for the rest of us” during the traditional year-end holiday season.
Stevens said he wanted his Festivus pole to make a statement about the growing need for the separation of church and state.
“My game plan was very simple, make a circus out of it, make it a fiasco, make it ridiculous,” Stevens said. “I hope next year that some Haitian fellows with the slaying of chickens want to come up, or some other crazy what not, because we need to take all of this out of here.”
The Festivus pole is among several other displays that have been approved by the Department of Management Services for the holiday season this year. Each of these displays, however, has a one week limit.
Keeping up with the diversity, Satanic Temple, too, installed a display, featuring an angel falling into hell with a banner atop it saying ‘Happy Holidays’ on December 22. The Department of Management Services had dismissed this display last year, calling it grossly offensive, after which Satanic Temple threatened to take legal action. On the other hand, the nativity scene by Florida Prayer Network was replaced on Monday by a similar Christian display from International House of Prayer Tallahassee.
Florida Prayer Network president Pam Olsen said she was not deterred by Stevens’ display or the one installed soon after by Satanists.
“They're here to protest Christ and Christmas,” Olsen said. “While I don't like some of the displays, and I think it's inappropriate, I'm sad because I think we should look for the hope and the message of love and joy and peace that the holiday does bring.”
Photo Credits: Budgebull
