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Shopping sprees take away meaning of Thanksgiving
By Colleen Young
On November 30, 2012
Recent social trends are starting to make me think that everyone wants to get rid of Thanksgiving.
Black Friday and the nonsense that comes along with it makes everyone look like a hypocrite, driving
to the stores just hours after giving thanks for what we already have.
I'll admit that I'm guilty. I've participated in Black Friday with my sisters in years prior. We went to
the mall to people watch or to experience the adrenaline rush with all the busyness and the crowds.
Sometimes Black Friday can be a fun family tradition and an opportunity to honestly get some good
discounts. But it truly upsets me that people are starting to push this crazy day of shopping to start even
earlier, on Thanksgiving Day.
The holiday is meant to be a day dedicated to giving thanks.
This Thanksgiving, I went to my Aunt Susan's house in Rochester, surrounded by 22 of my family
members.
I was excited to spend time with my cousins and forget about the stresses of everyday life. We ate good
food, took funny pictures and played Bingo.
During dinner, my cousins and I each took turns saying what we were thankful for. We were grateful
for everything from the food on our plates to the heroes that we look up to.
I left my Aunt Susan's house feeling giddy because I was so happy and blissfully thankful for the night
that I had and the family I was able to spend it with.
On the ride home, I kept thinking about how festive the evening was and how wonderful it is that
we all take this one day of the year to travel far and wide to be together and remind ourselves to be
thankful for all that we're blessed to have.
All of my heart-warming thoughts and emotions were quickly taken away when my family and I drove
by Toys R Us. The parking lot was full to capacity and crowds of people were walking into the store.
I couldn't believe the madness I was witnessing. Didn't people realize it was still a holiday?
After the Thanksgiving meal, people are supposed to be full of food and sitting around the living room,
soaking in all the family love they can.
This isn't the time for people to get in their cars and drive to the local toy store to stock up for the next
holiday. It doesn't make sense to give thanks for what we have and then buy what we don't need the
next day.
I understand that Black Friday can be a family tradition like it is for my sisters and me, and it's a major
contribution to our country's economy during the holidays.
However, now that stores have started opening on Thanksgiving Day, we have some reevaluating to
do. At the rate that we're going, Thanksgiving is going to be completely taken over by sales and people
who will do anything to get a bargain.
A lot of people probably saved money from the Black Friday sales, but my question is: Was it worth it
to forget about the holiday? Did you really need that discounted television or those shoes that were on
sale?
Will the idea of giving thanks disappear in upcoming years?
The holiday season is changing us for the wrong reasons. People are forgetting what this time is
supposed to be all about.
I commend people who want to buy gifts and spread holiday cheer to others. My request is that they
don't let that goal overcome the family time they're given on Thanksgiving Day.
Don't leave your family on Thanksgiving to spend money on them for the next holiday. I bet your
family would rather spend time with you during the holidays than receive a discounted gift.
Think about what's most important at this time of year and what the holidays are truly about. Hopefully
the answer will help you prioritize and realize your family is much more important than a sale.
Colleen Young can be reached by email at young.record@live.com.
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