There are several years where I have been served sauerkraut with Thanksgiving turkey; I understand it is a holiday tradition among some families in the Northeast. Perhaps others eat sauerkraut with goose for Christmas.
"At room temperature, fermentation will be complete in 10 to 12 days."
This quote from the first article I grabbed on making sauerkraut. You are indeed right, the majority of the cabbage is used for that purpose, making the implied allegation "but what will we do without the cabbage for our sauerkraut just days before Xmas?" another of reporter Bernstein's lie. Better she went into conducting like her old man.