Atheist builds 'Festivus' pole from Pabst Blue Ribbon cans in Tallahassee

Dec. 12 (UPI) -- What’s the deal with Festivus?

A Florida atheist successfully petitioned the office of Gov. Rick Scott to allow him to place a Festivus pole made of Pabst Blue Ribbon beer cans next to a nativity scene at the state Capitol in Tallahassee.

The fictional "Festivus for the rest of us" was made famous during an episode of Seinfeld when character Frank Costanza tried to force it on his son George.

According to the rules of Festivus, an unadorned aluminum pole must be built in celebration of the holiday. Chaz Stevens decided to personalize his pole a bit by using PBR cans.

"It got me through college," Stevens said of the beer. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Boca Raton Pastor Mark Boykin is not too pleased about the pole, though he was able to make a funny Festivus reference about the traditional "airing of grievances."

"Where does that cross over into the right and respect of others? If this were a true religion, where is the heritage, the history?" he asked WPTV. "There's going to be quite the list of the airing of grievances against Chad Stevens I'm sure."

December 23 is the official start date for Festivus, but Stevens is getting things started earlier this year, in response to nativity display, which was unveiled with a worship service by the Florida Prayer Network. "They opened the door. If they're going to allow a menorah, a crèche, a Pabst Blue, a Ribbon pole, maybe a Flying Spaghetti Monster," said Stevens. "It's all or none."

[WPTV] [NPR]