WACO, Texas (AP) – The seven-day holiday of Kwanzaa began Monday, but the celebration started early at the Cameron Park Zoo.

A South African lion named “Kwanzaa” celebrated his first birthday, and the weekend party included 10 pounds of horse meat fashioned into a cake, whipped cream and a carrot representing a candle.

Kwanzaa was born at the zoo on Christmas Eve 2004, and now weighs more than 115 pounds.

The Kwanzaa holiday celebrates African-American culture.