Reflecting on all my past Thanksgiving weekends, the only constant seems to be that I have never gone shopping on Black Friday. When I tell people this, they’re always shocked. They ask if I go on vacation or somehow happen to be sick that same day every year, but there's more than one reason behind my Black Friday experiences (or lack there of).
1. The Food Coma
If you think I’m going to try on a record number of clothes the day after I single handedly finish an entire can of jellied cranberry sauce and half of a zucchini pie, then you’re mistaken, my friend.
2. A Lazy Day
Up until Thanksgiving, there are very few mornings to wake up alarm-clock-free in your very own bed. To me, Black Friday has always been a time to relax, wear my pajamas, and make waffles for my family. No matter how much I love shopping, there’s nothing quite as nice as a do-nothing-day before returning back to the madness of finals.
3. Odd Sale Kick-Off Times
It seems that each year, Black Friday sales are starting at weirder and earlier times. It’s gotten to the point where Black Friday isn’t even on Black Friday anymore, with sales beginning for Target and Wal-Mart in the afternoon on Thanksgiving. As long as it’s still Turkey Day, don’t even ask me to leave the dinner table.
4. The Black Friday Frenzy
Now, if the idea of waking up for a 5 a.m. sale isn't scary enough, the stories in the news each year of people being trampled to death or beaten up over sweaters and Barbies really don't seem to help make Black Friday a little less frightening in my eyes. There’s even a Black Friday Death Count website dedicated to logging Black Friday injuries and deaths, which is a little unsettling for the day after a holiday dedicated to being thankful for the people around you. By all means, join the stampede, but don’t let the wildebeests take you down in the process.
5. Fight or Flight
My competitive shopping edge is basically nonexistent, so I’m at a pretty big disadvantage against all the pro-shoppers. In the game of Fight or Flight: Black Friday edition, let’s just say I’d be ready to run.
6. The Movies
If I went Black Friday shopping, I would probably miss my favorite Thanksgiving weekend tradition: a trip to the movies with my cousins. Popcorn and Christmas movie previews are the only things that get me up and moving on Black Friday.
7. Family Time
Thanksgiving and Black Friday are two of the only days I get to see my cousins each year. After the Thanksgiving madness, a full day of fun with them has always been worth skipping out on the shopping for. My memories of Thanksgiving every year are a little fuzzy (on account of the Turkey daze), but I love how I can vividly remember almost every Black Friday morning and movie trip spent with my brothers and cousins perfectly.
8. Christmas Decorating
By 11:59 on Thanksgiving, I’m already racing to the Christmas decorations, putting red and green bandanas on my dogs, switching all our Autumn Leaves Yankee candles to the Christmas Wreath scent, and blasting the Elf soundtrack. In my eyes, Black Friday marks the first day of the Christmas season, which is my favorite time to begin all of the decorating that comes with it.
9. More Shopping, Less Leftovers
A trip to the mall means potentially sacrificing the last piece of cranberry bread to one of two very hungry brothers. Priorities.
10. Cyber Monday
Although it might seem like I’m missing out on the deals of a lifetime, every Black Friday simply reminds me of Cyber Monday. Same savings with online shopping? Count me in.
So this Friday, I’ll be in my pajamas with my coffee and One Tree Hill, but if you find the strength to rise to the occasion, I wish you the best of luck at those Black Friday sales.
