Each year I write a post (or ten) about the Holiday shopping season.  This year is no different.  Today I would like to discuss the phenomenon of shopping known as “Black Friday” or the day after Thanksgiving here in America.

The day after Thanksgiving each year is affectionately referred to as “Black Friday”.  This is for two reasons.  First - it is the day that stores typically go from red to black profit-wise (thanks for that tip writerchaz) and second - it is a day dreaded by many a shoppe employee.  The owners of stores love Black Friday, the workers - not so much.  I worked in a mall for several years and let me tell you - Black Friday is not a day you want to work if you can help it.  Consumers turn into big monsters on this day and all customer service standards that may have been previously adhered to (which is not much these days) flies out the window.

Isn’t there a better way?  Isn’t there a better plan for the Holidays?  Why can’t we just get together with our family and friends to enjoy each others company, rather than consume large amounts of food and material items?  Each year I talk about an alternative Holiday experience.  Last year I pledged to go handmade only.  It seems that people just want to keep consuming.  We need to break the cycle.

If it is better to give than receive why can’t we take this adage to heart?  Give of ourselves in a productive manner.  Give to those in need.  Give from our hearts.  I’m not saying we should completely stop buying gifts for one another, but perhaps do it in a more conscious way.  Think about the purchases and how they effect our environment.  Think of how they effect those who produced them.  Think about how they will effect our future on this planet.  These are the things we should ponder as we go about our Holiday shopping.

How realistic is this concept?  Seems pretty simple to me.

Peace - Chantale

Appropriate Links:
Buy Nothing Day - brought to you by Adbusters
Black Friday gloom: Downturn has retailers scrambling - from the Mercury News
Black Friday 2008 - from blackfriday.net - for those of you that are still into the high level consumption and want to brave the weather and crazy crowds this site provides ads for most of the stores that offer deals on black friday. Peace be with you.

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