Wikipedia defines Thanksgiving as "a holiday celebrated in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November. It has been an annual tradition since 1863, when, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of "Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens", to be celebrated on Thursday, November 26.[1] As a federal and public holiday in the U.S., Thanksgiving is one of the major holidays of the year."
When did Thanksgiving cease to be a federal and public holiday? Who made this decision? I, for one, will not be shopping on that day. I, for one, will not shop in those stores at all over the Thanksgiving weekend. Black Friday will just have to go on without this shopper.
3 comments:
Linda, I worked in retail for the better part of 46 years. I remember when ALL stores were closed on Sundays, then gradually over the years they opened on Sundays, hours of operation were extended, and finally midnight openings/closing, and now holiday hours. I personally spent many holidays tired and exhausted and happy for it all to be over. One year I missed a flight and never got home til mid day on Thanksgiving. Every Christmas Eve I worked til at least 6 or 7. I rarely hosted a family meal because I neither had the time or energy to do it. I, like you, won't be anywhere near a mall or shopping center that weekend. The sad thing is, that no matter how many people complain about the holiday hours, there are that many more that will patronize the stores at any hour on any day. And to top it off people think they are getting such great bargains, and they truly are not. Many times the sales are just as good on a Monday or Tuesday as they are on the weekends, an sales are nearly always extended into the next week. It is sad that so many people buy into all this. I just know that I for one will be sitting home with a book in front of the fireplace that weekend! Ok, off my soapbox now!!
Pat
You and the previous commenter are SO right. It really is sad. BUT...as long as people shop on those days, the stores will continue to open. I see no end in sight for this nonsense, sad to say. I won't be out there, either!!!
When we did shop on Black Friday, we never went to the stores until after 4:00 pm. There were no crowds, and most times we got what we wanted. The only thing I get up for at 4:30 am is a flight to Orlando!
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