Countering the first-ever nativity scene to be displayed at the Florida Capitol, a South Florida man has installed a Festivus pole in the Capitol rotunda Wednesday, right next to the Christmas manger scene a Christian group set up last week.

The pole, built using empty Pabst Blue Ribbon beer cans, is in celebration of the parody holiday made popular by a holiday episode of "Seinfeld."

Chaz Stevens received permission from the state of Florida to install the Festivus pole.



Both Stevens and the Florida Nativity Scene Committee, which put up the manger scene, think the other group's display is laughable, and more than a few visitors have stopped to laugh about what they called "the nonsense of it all."



Beneath the rival displays, however, lies a serious question about just where the line between church and state should be drawn. Stevens said he wanted to make a statement that government should not be endorsing any religion.

