The holiday season in the US starts with one very, very busy weekend.
First, on Thursday, there is Thanksgiving. Families gather and everyone across the country eats the same food. Many people think it’s the worst thing in the world to be alone on Thanksgiving. I wish I could be.
Then, there’s Black Friday, a name as bleak as it sounds. Stores have huge sales, the lowest prices you can get stuff all year. I’ve never gone Black Friday shopping, because every store is absolutely mobbed with fanatical crowds who want big screen TVs at a low, low, low price. Even the gallery I work at has a line going down the block when we open our Holiday Sale that day.
Next up is Small Business Saturday. After everyone buys stuff at the big box marts on Black Friday, they’re expected to support small businesses and do some local shopping. Are you sensing a pattern here?
The day after that is apparently Secondhand Sunday, where people are supposed to shop at thrift stores and shepherd sustainability.
Finally, there’s Cyber Monday. That’s when all the online stores have sales. Your inbox will be chock full of emails telling you that you can get 50% off a new computer or anything else you can imagine. Often, the sales are extended for a full week.
Here, the holidays are considered to land between Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Years Day. It’s one big push to buy buy buy presents for people (and yourself)–if the first weekend is any indication.
This is one of the reasons I say bah humbug to the holidays. It’s all so very commercialized, the seasonal music drives me nuts, and I just don’t get into the ‘holiday spirit.’ Maybe I’m just a Scrooge. But doesn’t it seem just a little like madness?