It's the most wonderful time of the year... for some of us! Time for lots of food we eat once or twice a year, family we haven't seen in a year, and the shopping deals that speak directly to our souls. Think this next week is all about Thanksgiving? Not anymore. Black Friday is the hot holiday trend that causes people to wait outside store fronts early in the morning for hours and search higher and lower than normal for the best deals for their loved ones (or themselves, I'm not judging).
With this Black Friday craze, are college students about to go on Thanksgiving break or Black Friday break?
Those passionate Thanksgiving supporters feel that the hype of Black Friday takes away from what Thanksgiving is all about: being thankful for the blessings you have and spend time together as a loving family. They feel Black Friday just causes drama, unnecessary fist fights over a TV, and that too much time is spent focused on gaining worldly possessions.
Black Friday supporters claim that staying up late and going shopping can actually brings their family together. They huddle together to avoid the chaos and scour for deals for outside family and friends. They shop for others, not for themselves. After all, it is the first official day of Christmas. After the adventure is over, they spend the day sleeping and relaxing at home. They need something to do after cooking all day and eating when they aren't cooking.
Thanksgiving is a time to talk and reflect on the past year and how the family has been blessed. Black Friday is a time to get excited for the upcoming holiday season and year ahead. Thanksgiving is a time that you can sit at home in your pjs, eat all the food you want, and watch fun parades. Black Friday is a time to run around as many stores as you can and see how many people you can get gifts for.
Overall, neither holiday is bad! Not each holiday is meant for everyone, and each person celebrates in their own way. This year, my family is taking on Black Friday in the afternoon hours to ease ourselves into craziness. It is a change in tradition, as we used to avoid any and all shopping areas on Black Friday. But change is good, and I'm excited to see how Black Friday will shape new future traditions.
Have a happy Thanksgiving and Black Friday! And get excited, because next up is Christmas!!!!!!
