Cinema Lounge, a film discussion group, takes place at 7:00 PM at Barnes and Noble, 555 12th St., NW in Washington, DC (near the Metro Center Metro stop). You do not need to be a member of the Washington DC Film Society to attend.

Cinema Lounge is moderated by Daniel R. Vovak.

Holiday-themed films

On April 14, 2008, we discussed holiday-themed films. I have to admit that there were two surprises for me related to this discussion, the first being how many holidays that there are, especially Jewish holidays. The second surprise was that a disproportional number of horror films are associated with holidays. I should also add that one person commented that "Hollywood will remake anything!" Then he added: that "the remake of Black Christmas was so bad, I wanted to walk out of my own house." I'm still laughing at how funny that comment was.

Overall, it was a lively discussion for our group, probably the liveliest discussion of my 1-1/2 years leading the group. What I learned is that holidays provide an easy tie-in for movies, whereby the plot naturally unfolds around inherent traditions understood by most of the public. (Note: all holidays are approximate, as some change slightly each year.)

Holidays and Films
New Year's Day: January 1.
Three Kings Day (Dia de los Santos Reyes): January 6.
Islamic New Year (Al-Hijra 1429AH): January 9.
Friday The 13th. Friday The 13th (1980).
Martin Luther King, Jr's Birthday: Monday, January 21.
Groundhog Day: February 2. Ground Hog Day (1993).
Super Bowl Sunday. First Sunday in February. Black Sunday (1977).
Mardi Gras: February 5. Mardi Gras (1931, 1958, 1986). The Skelton Key (2005). Point of No Return (1976 & 1994).
Ash Wednesday: February 6.
Lincoln's Birthday: February 12.
Valentine's Day: February 14.
President's Day: Monday, February 18.
Washington's Birthday: February 22.
Leap Day: February 29.
Palm Sunday: Sunday, March 16. Lent (1985 & 2003).
St. Patrick's Day: March 17. The Quiet Man (1952).
Purim: March 20.
Good Friday: March 21.
Baha'i New Year (Naw Ruz): March 21.
Easter: Sunday, March 23. Passion of the Christ (2004).
April Fool's Day: April 1.
Passover: April 19. Ten Commandment (1956). Prince of Egypt (1998).
Earth Day: April 22.
Eastern Orthodox Easter: Sunday, April 27.
Yom Ha Shoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day): May 1.
Cinco de Mayo: May 5.
Mother's Day: Sunday, May 11.
Declaration of the B·b (Baha'i holiday): May 23.
Memorial Day: Monday, May 26.
Ascension of Baha'u'llah (Baha'i holiday): May 29.
Shavuot: June 8.
Flag Day: June 14.
Juneteenth: June 19.
Father's Day: Sunday, June 15.
US Independence Day: July 4. Independence Day (1996). Uncle Sam (1997). Avalon (1990). Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942).
Martyrdom of the Bab (Baha'i holiday): July 9.
Labor Day: Monday, September 1.
Ramadan: September 1.
Rosh Hashanah: September 29.
Eid al-Fitr: September 30.
Yom Kippur: October 8. Wild Strawberries (1957).
Sukkot (Begins at Sundown*): October 13.
Columbus Day (observed): October 13.
Birth of the Bab (Baha'i holiday): October 20.
Halloween: October 31. Most slasher movies are related directly or indirectly to Halloween. Halloween (1978).
Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead): November 1.
All Saint's Day: November 1.
All Soul's Day: November 2.
Veterans Day: November 11.
Birth of Baha'u'llah (Baha'i holiday): November 12.
Thanksgiving Day (US): Thursday, November 27. Home for the Holidays (1995).
World Aids Day: December 1.
Day Without Art: December 1.
Pearl Harbor Day (December 7). 1941 (1979).
Bodhi Day: December 8.
Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary: December 8.
Eid al-Adha: December 8.
Chanukah: December 21. Hebrew Hammer (2003).
Christmas Day: December 25. The Ref (1994). Die Hard (1988). Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987). The Family Stone (2005). Eight Crazy Nights (2002). It's a Wonderful Life (1946). A Christmas Carol (1951). A Christmas Story (1983). Christmas Vacation (1989). Black Christmas (1974 & 2006). Nativity Story (2006). Surviving Christmas (2004). Christmas with the Kranks (2004).
Kwanzaa: December 26 - January 1.
Boxing Day: December 26.
Islamic New Year (Al-Hijra - 1430AH): December 29.
New Year's Eve: December 31. When Harry Met Sally (1989). New Year's Evil (1980). 200 Cigarettes (1999).