Celebrating the Season With Our Cats

As this writer began work on this project to find holiday stories involving cats, she was amazed to find that there are ELEVEN religious holidays celebrated during December!

- Candilee Jackson

Introduction

With no disrespect to other events celebrated during the holiday season, this project will concentrate on Hanukkah, Christmastide, and Kwanzaa. Research found a plethora of cat-themed Christmas movies and books, with only a few on Hanukkah and even less for Kwanzaa. (This writer sees a GREAT opportunity here for someone wishing to reach the huge population celebrating Kwanzaa!)

The Christmas holiday season traditionally opens on Thanksgiving Day with the Macy's Parade in New York City; however, rumor has it that Christmas shopping begins sometime in July. The date of Hanukkah is determined by the Hebrew calendar, which is based on the movements of the sun and moon. Hanukkah is always celebrated on the twenty-fifth day of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar, which means the first night can begin anywhere from the very end of November to mid-December. Considered more a cultural holiday rather than a religious one, the week-long Kwanzaa celebration honors African-American heritage.

"Black nationalist Maulana Karenga created Kwanzaa in 1966 as a way to unite the African-American community following the Watts Rebellion in a predominantly Black Los Angeles neighborhood.

And so, let the holidays begin! First off, the appropriate accouterments are needed: fuzzy, warm jammies and slippers (check!); cozy blanket and comfy chair (check!); hot cocoa with marshmallows in a big mug (check!); a bowl of popcorn for munching (check!); fire in fireplace (check); holiday music in the background (check!); and last but not least, cat in lap (check!). In your hands is one of two items, either the television remote or a good cat-themed holiday book, and honey, YOU ARE SET for a long winter's night!