Tony Clement Makes Seinfeld Reference In House Of Commons | HuffPost

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WATCH: Clement Makes Seinfeld Reference In House Of Commons

Zi-Ann Lum— The Huffington Post Canada

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It was real and it was spectacular.

A comparison between Parliament and a holiday popularized by “Seinfeld” added some comic relief to the House of Commons on Friday.

B.C. Conservative MP David Wilks set Treasury Board President Tony Clement up with context for the reference, asking his colleague for an update on “what the government is doing to spread the holiday cheer.”

“Sometimes I feel that in this place Festivus is the only holiday, the traditional airing of grievances,” said Clement, referring to a holiday rite made popular by the show.

He assured Canadians of their freedom to decorate and celebrate the holidays however the wish this season.

“This week, I sent out a message to all public servants, letting them know that they should feel free to festoon their workplaces around this holiday season; whether it’s Kwanzaa, or Hanukkah, or Christmas. Indeed, I encourage all public servants and indeed all Canadians to enjoy the holiday season,” he said.

Festivus is a holiday made popular after its celebration in an episode of “Seinfeld.”

Show writer Dan O’Keefe explained to Mother Jones last year the fictional holiday is actually inspired from his own father’s eccentric Christmas traditions.

“It was f***ing weird, man,” O’Keefe told the publication. “It did not have a set date … We never knew when it was going to happen until we got off the school bus and there were weird decorations around our house and weird French ‘60 music playing.”

The hallmark of the holiday is a family dinner preceded by “The Airing of Grievances” and followed by family wrestling matches called “The Feats of Strength.” Its most salient symbol is an aluminum pole.

In the show, family patriarch Frank Costanza created Festivus after he “rained blows” on someone after an altercation while Christmas shopping.

Clement’s Festivus mention is the latest in a series of nods made to the popular sitcom series by Conservative party members.

In July, the Prime Minister Stephen Harper wished “the Seinfeld show” a happy anniversary on behalf of his caucus.

Last year, Harper also had some fun on Twitter poking fun at opposition leader Thomas Mulcair with another Frank Constanza-related jab.

Parliamentarians are scheduled to break for the holidays on Dec. 12.

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