It seems that in the blink of an eye, October whirled right past us. Halloween came on quickly and was soon forgotten. Even before Halloween was over, it didn’t seem to take holiday priority. Instead, the last two weeks of October saw big box stores like Macy’s, Target and Walmart immediately begin rolling out Christmas supplies. Before the month of October was over, store after store began having massive sales, hinting shoppers toward the impending holiday season.
As soon as November 1 rolled around this year, Halloween and anything Autumn related became old news. In came Christmas lights, cards, and wreaths. Decorative pumpkins and fall themed tablecloths were moved to the clearance sections. However, another Autumn holiday appears to be forgotten. This year, Thanksgiving will be on November 24, and it seems to have been tucked under the rug.
Grocery stores have made nearly no mention of Thanksgiving sales, but have already started to place Christmas goodies on the shelves. Thanksgiving has just become the eve of Black Friday, a special night celebrating great deals rather than great memories. Images of roasting turkeys and cranberry sauce have been scrapped for images of flat-screen televisions and leather boots offered at great discounts.
Retail stores are previewing Black Friday Deals, yet are paying no mind to that fact that Thanksgiving itself is its own special holiday. Instead, stores like Macy’s and Target will be opening on the evening of Thanksgiving, a time when both customers and retail workers alike should be spending precious time with their families. Unfortunately, at the expense of consumers craving an extra couple of dollars in savings, many people this year will not be able to enjoy time with their loved ones.
So why has Thanksgiving been forgotten? We swept right through Halloween, and waltzed right into Christmas. Unfortunately, the American population has been swept up in the glory of good deals. Retail giants have convinced us that there is absolutely no better time to get holiday steals, whether you purchase gifts for loved ones, or treats for yourself.
We have been devoured by consumerism. Instead of taking the time to appreciate all that we do have on Thanksgiving, many people rush out of their homes. Ironically, before Thanksgiving dinner even begins, people crowd into retail giants to obtain more material goods. Time is precious. As cliché as it is, do not take it for granted. Material things are not what is important in life. This Thanksgiving, maybe be thankful for all the things that you have, and for the ability to be able to spend the evening with friends and family.
If you are tired of retail workers being forced to sacrifice their family time in order for them to work on Thanksgiving, you can protest simply by not shopping on Thanksgiving night. If need be, starting your shopping around 7 a.m. on the Friday morning is a generous alternative, and allows retail giants to see the error of their ways. Have a Happy Thanksgiving, and please be grateful for this time that you have.
