Historically, Black Friday has been seen as the start to the holiday shopping season. It became the “official” start date in 1924, after the first Macy’s Day Thanksgiving Parade. Over time it has come to mark the excitement of waiting in line for stores to open their doors so that lines of patrons could hustle in and take advantage of the sales. As the hours have started creeping into the evening hours of Thanksgiving, though, I have come to despise the day.
It’s a funny juxtaposition that Americans have established: in one minute, families are gathered around their tables, piled high with turkey and all of the fixings, laughing over the past and soaking up the blessings of life. Once the food is wrapped up and dishes cleared away, many say adieu and drive off to their local Best Buy to get in on the holiday rush—before coffee can be served and the day can continue. It’s over nearly as soon as it’s begun. How, exactly, are we supposed to fully cherish our fortunes when all we want is more?
Consumerism is slowly chipping away at one of the happiest times of the year. Society has become too invested in looking ahead at the Christmas season and the shiny gadgets it brings that it has forgotten the importance of being thankful for what we have. The Friday after should continue the spirit of Thanksgiving. It should mean leftovers and the constant picking at of remaining dessert. Our family and friends should be kept closest to us still, and we should be appreciative of the gifts we have been given in this life.
Especially when life hasn’t been so kind to everyone. Spending time with loved ones, keeping warm from the cold, stuffing bellies with food to feed a small army, is fortune in itself. We should be satisfied with that alone, because hundreds of thousands of Americans can’t be comforted with the same knowledge.
I propose an end to the Black Friday rush. I propose that workers not have to leave their families and festivities to serve customers too anxious to remember that it’s a holiday for the employees as well. I propose that we sit with our families and turn on music that sings of silver bells, red-nosed reindeers, and white Christmases without talking about material items on a mental wish list. Above all, I propose that we return Thanksgiving to a state of joy from within, and back to a holiday that is not forgotten in the midst of holiday purchases.
