Thanksgiving is known as the day of gratefulness and generosity, where loved ones gather to share a hearty meal and count their blessings. Family members travel to see their relatives, old friends are reunited, and a great dinner is shared among guests. Government offices, schools, and the majority of businesses close on this day so that students and workers can participate in the loving holiday.
This wholesome tradition originates from the 15th century, when a harvest feast was shared between the Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag Indians of the New World, a celebration that was proclaimed an official holiday by President Lincoln centuries later. Now, the holiday is largely symbolic of love, family, and humility.
Yet modern day America can’t seem to keep up with the Thanksgiving spirit longer than a full day. Ironically, the day after Thanksgiving is known as Black Friday, a day where the honorable virtues of Thanksgiving are promptly replaced by American consumerism and greed.
Black Friday is an unofficial holiday where stores put out their best sales of the year in anticipation for the Christmas season. These sales typically last until the end of Friday night, prompting eager shoppers to grab their wallets and line up outside the stores until they open. Insane deals at popular businesses drive mobs of people to the store fronts to scavenge for the best discounts, which sometimes end in physical fights over the under-priced products. The National Retail Federation reported that last year, over 151 million people shopped over Thanksgiving weekend, spending approximately $300 each.
With Christmas fast approaching, it is hard to resist the promise of half-off holiday gifts. But at what cost? The spirit of Thanksgiving is thwarted aside before the day has even reached a close.
Each year, stores seem to be competing with each other as their opening times creep earlier and earlier. Both Walmart and Target boast starting their Black Friday sales at 6 pm Thursday night, before many people have even gathered at the dinner table. They are not alone, as various big-name brands such as Best Buy, Victoria’s Secret, Macy's, and Kohl’s similarly open on Thanksgiving. Stores that remain closed Thanksgiving Day plan to open early on Friday morning, many letting in customers as early as 5 am.
Consumers may line up outside a store at 3 am to score a great deal. Once inside, they are awaited by long lines, crowded paths, and carts piled high by determined and often sleep-deprived patrons. Shoppers scurry between displays, eyes darting back and forth between clearance signs, their hands shuffling through clumped piles of clothes that were once neatly stacked.
Not only are people rushing from the Thanksgiving dinner table to line up at their favorite store, but they are also getting in physical alterations just hours after being thankful for what they have. Reports of mobs, violence, and fights breaking out over discounted products are customary on Black Friday. Chaotic brawls have led to countless injuries and arrests, as competitive shoppers fight to the point where police intervention is necessary.
Despite the chance of violent outbreaks, people are still racing to grab a shopping cart. Last year, Black Friday sales rose 14% from the previous year, and these numbers are only expected to keep rising. This influx of consumers can be important for businesses. It is believed that the term “Black Friday” marks the time of year when businesses go “in the black,” meaning they turn a profit. The timing, however, is unfortunate, as American families were joining at the dinner table moments before to celebrate their relationships and blessings.
Still, the lure of Black Friday deals can be hard to resist. How early will you shop this year?
