In past years, many stores have begun opening their doors earlier and earlier for Thanksgiving and Black Fridays Sales. This year, many stores are even opening their doors to begin sales on Thanksgiving day. Stores including Walmart, JC Penney, and Macy's are opening their doors at 5/6pm this Thanksgiving. However, in Massachusetts, Maine, and Rhode Island, stores such as these aren't even allowed to be open on Thanksgiving day. Laws in these states known as "blue laws", which prohibit grocery stores, "big box stores", and department stores from opening on Thanksgiving, as well as limiting the opening of stores on certain other holidays such as Veterans' Day and Easter. Many shoppers in these states seeking sales from department stores are turning to states bordering their own that are not restricted by "blue laws". Though some shoppers have complained about stores not opening, others are content with the restriction, contending that one day of no shopping to be with family is greatly needed. One greater concern by shoppers is that there will be little means by which to pick up last minute or forgotten ingredients for Thanksgiving dinner, though smaller businesses such as pharmacies and convenience stores are, allowed to open on Thanksgiving.
I think that over the years the significance of Thanksgiving has been skewed by the growing number of sales advertised by way of this holiday. I think that the blue laws are a really great thing, eliminating any inclination by shoppers to venture to stores on Thanksgiving rather than spending time with family. Black Friday isn't as much of a distraction as Thanksgiving Day sales in my opinion, since it interferes much less with family time on the holiday itself. However, stores opening the day of Thanksgiving is going way too far. It just shows the degree to which commercialization has been attributed to the holiday and how little importance many people put on spending the holiday with their loved ones.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/thanksgiving-shopping-states-ban-21022394
I have generally grown tired of the absurd commercialization of holidays and agree with you assessment.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me a bit of the woman who started Mothers' Day. She started the holiday to celebrate mothers everywhere, and that's when Hallmark stepped in and commercialized it with the greeting card business. She spent all her money and her life petitioning people to get rid of Mothers' Day, since she was disgusted with what it became.
ReplyDeleteI am glad that there are states that have banned the Black Friday deals on Friday. It's called Black FRIDAY, for a reason. You need to be focused on what you are thankful for, not what you need to buy!
ReplyDeleteByron Otis-Yes, I believe that such commercialization of the holiday has taken away from its meaning, and allows people only to think of the deals they will get, and not what they will be thankful for.
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