Black Friday Rant

Black Friday, Cyber Monday, catalogs and fliers in every mail delivery exhorting us to buy, buy, buy. I know it’s good for the economy but just where does this fit with Christmas? You know, peace on earth, goodwill to men. I understand that Christmas sales can make the difference between success or failure for retail businesses but would people really not buy the same things if they waited to shop on Friday morning?
Stores opening at 4AM used to seem crazy to me but opening on Thanksgiving evening somehow made me sad. Thanksgiving is one holiday that can be enjoyed by people of all faiths, or none. It is a time when families gather to enjoy, or not, each other’s company. To end a day like that with a shopping trip seems to negate the holiday in some way. That doesn’t even take into account all the people who have to end their holiday by going to work.
I know that for many people shopping is entertainment. That’s fine if that’s what they enjoy but it’s hard for me to understand why it has to be done on Thanksgiving Day.
I stopped at Northshore Mall last week for something I hadn’t been able to find locally. Counters were piled high with clothing, sporting equipment, notions, jewelry, every imaginable item that could be a gift. There were long lines of people with arms full of items waiting to be checked out. I’m sure that the shoppers want to find a gift that will please the recipient but I wonder how many of those same items will be in line for return or exchange the week after Christmas.
I admit that I’ve become increasingly cynical. Like many older people, I remember when Christmas was a very different celebration. As long as I’m having this little rant, Christmas decorations going up right after Halloween and Christmas music being played in every store until it becomes meaningless background noise are two more of the things that seem to make Christmas season less enjoyable over the years. Anticipation is part of the pleasure and shouldn’t be spread over months.