Black Friday: The Real Meaning of Thanksgiving?

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It’s the one day that some people look forward to all year: Black Friday. It’s is not a day of mourning, it’s a day for shopping. Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving, but got the name Black Friday because it signals the official start of the Christmas shopping season. The heavy shopping day puts many retailers “in the black” which means they are turning a profit. (“In the black” is a old phase which goes back to the days of manual financial ledgers where losses were written in red ink and profits in black ink.) Many retailers offer big sales/discounts on coveted items (like TVs or other electronics) to draw shoppers into the store. While Black Friday puts many retailers in a good place financially, it puts many consumers in deep debt.

Sadly, the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday gets lost in the shopping frenzy. While many families still get together for a nice turkey dinner, just as many are using the day to comb through the ads to find the best deals. Quite a few people spend part of Thanksgiving standing in line, waiting for a store to open its doors in the wee hours, letting in the throngs to shop until they drop. Some stores even opened up on Thanksgiving last year. It’s pathetic that some people spend more time planning what they are going to buy than spend time on those things for which they should be thankful. Let’s not forget that because so many people are out shopping, the crowds are large, the lines are long, and tempers can be short. It’s common to hear news stories of customer vs. customer or customer vs. store clerk altercations on that shopping day. In my opinion, a person must be desperate to save a few dollars to go out and shop on a day like that.

Me? I will be staying away from the stores that day, maybe even that weekend. Instead, I will be spending my weekend being thankful for family and friends – because family and friends are far more important than things.


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It’s Christmas shopping time, but don't forget charities

With Thanksgiving bearing down on us, that can only mean one thing – Christmas shopping begins. Or shall I say, BEGAN. Some retailers are making the push to get shoppers out before Thanksgiving to beat the rush. In a way, I’m thankful that they are.

I try to get most of my shopping done before Thanksgiving. I have this love-hate relationship with Christmas. I love giving and getting presents, but I sometimes dislike the process of shopping. It’s hard enough trying to find the right things, you also have to fight the crowds who may want the same things you do.

One thing that I do is avoid the after Thanksgiving day sales like the plague. The mad rush to save a few pennies, the crush of the crowds, people fighting over items, it’s just not worth it. It’s everything that Christmas is NOT supposed to be.

This year, as in the last several years, I am trying to find more simple, meaningful gifts for people. More importantly. I’m trying do more for, and give more to, my favorite charity, which supports disabled children.

This holiday season, while you’re pressed for time, money, and ideas, don’t forget to give to your favorite charity. It’s a simple thing to do, and the rewards sometimes are immeasurable. And it keeps with the spirit of Christmas – giving to those who need it most. Do it – you’ll be glad you did.

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