Black Friday shopping, a tradition we cherish

A+row+of+shopping+bags+ready+for+the+holidays.

A row of shopping bags ready for the holidays.

by Olivia Traphagen

Having Black Friday the day after Thanksgiving is one of the many arguments people face today.  Should Black Friday take place the day after Thanksgiving, or is it destroying the idea of giving thanks? Since many students partake is this commercial ritual, this is a problem worth discussing.

If this issue is not resolved, people may feel obligated to go against their traditions by shopping on Black Friday, or not shopping on Black Friday at all. In 2014, $616.9 was the total amount of sales that an individual was expected to spend during the holiday season and 140.1 million people was the expected number of shoppers.

Thanksgiving happens only once a year, and it is a holiday that recalls the pilgrims bountiful harvests in America, giving thanks for the food they had.  Black Friday is a retail “holiday” that features great deals, sales, and lower prices, meant for buying holiday presents. It gives people a chance to “walk-off” all of that Thanksgiving turkey.  Black Friday can also help out families that can’t afford to just go to the mall at any time.

This “holiday” is the perfect occasion. It goes straight from giving thanks, to getting into the holiday cheer with family and friends.

Continuing to have Black Friday on this date is mostly helping those in need, so children can receive presents on the special holiday. Even though Black Friday shopping can be dangerous at times, America should not shy away from doing what they love to do on the holidays.