Thanksgiving is just around the corner. In all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it’s sometimes easy to forget the true meaning of Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving, strictly an American holiday, is one day out of the year for family and friends to come together and share what they are thankful for.
The day after Thanksgiving, commonly referred to as Black Friday, has turned into a bit of a holiday in America as well. Shoppers flood the stores trying to find the best deals and get an early start on their Christmas shopping. In previous years, stores have been opening earlier and earlier to attract more customers. Some stores even open late on Thanksgiving night. This year, many stores are opening around 6 p.m., and most shoppers line up hours before the stores open, meaning they won’t even have Thanksgiving dinner with their families. This “holiday” isn’t even really Black Friday anymore, seeing that it is now taking place on Thursday.
I personally think this is ridiculous. The purpose of Thanksgiving is to spend time with family, while giving thanks for all that you have. Sitting around the table, eating turkey and mashed potatoes, sharing stories and laughing as the sun goes down is how I spend my Thanksgiving every year.
Thanksgiving wasn’t meant for families to rush through dinner to wait out in the cold for a store to open. Don’t get me wrong, I like Black Friday and the wonderful deals it has to offer. However, by shopping on Thanksgiving night, this means that employees have to run the stores and work on their holiday while they could be at home with their families.
The last thing most employees want is to deal with rude, pushy or annoying customers on such a great holiday. If you do choose to go shopping this Thanksgiving, be considerate to those employees who have to give up time with their families. Remember to be thankful for the little things and enjoy your time with family and friends this holiday season.