End the War -- on Thanksgiving

Macy's is giving up the fight and will open on Thanksgiving.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/10/14/macys-thanksgiving/2978757/

Is nothing sacred anymore?

Let's hope Greta and the rest of the guys at Fox News get mobilized.

 

In this economy holidays have become obsolete.
God forbid somebody is making money when somebody else isn't.

 

Man, you scared me. Don't do that to me. I assumed this was a thread about how a small percentage of people are petitioning to change the name "Thanksgiving" so as to not offend anyone.
Happy November holiday everyone!

 

Happy pre-Black Friday!

 

Where did the term "Black Friday" come from? Is it racist, too?

 

The real war on Thanksgiving is businesses putting up and selling Christmas decorations before Thanksgiving... and Halloween, for that matter.

So, yeah, there's a war on Halloween, too.

 

If you don't want to have to work on Thanksgiving at Macy's, learn math.

 

In all seriousness, are holidays obsolete?

 

I would hope you're being sarcastic, but I'm also considering the source.

It's called "Black Friday" for two primary reasons. 1. It's an old tradition (I can't think of anything better to describe it) that businesses operate in the red (i.e. losing money on the chart) all year long until that day, when they're suddenly operating in the black (i.e. not just breaking even, but actually making money), and the Christmas season is their profit for the year. And 2. It's become "black" for the employees who have to be up at the wee hours of the morning and deal with the craziness of the day.

 

Peter King once had a memorable entry on Black Friday in his MMQB:

Annoying Shopping Note of The Week:

Before a late flight to Greenbay on Saturday I decided to get up early and do a little Christmas shopping. I had noticed that Walmart was selling a DVD player for $6:50 and decided to get a few for the family and Brett.

The alarm went off at 4:45 am . Got out of bed quickly dressed and headed down stairs. As I headed out I noticed Mary Beth and the tight end were on the couch stretching. They must be headed out for early run I thought.

Stopped by to local 24 hour Starbucks and grabbed a venti egg nog latte with double whip cream-- $ 9.50 - what a country. It cost more to buy a latte then it does to buy a dvd player.

Pulled into the Walmart parking lot at 5:20. There was already a long line at the door which did not open till 6am. Got in line - the man in front of me had on his Nutley High School Football letter jacket. He had to be in his late 50's. Why does every one in Jersey still wear their letter jackets after they graduate.
By 5:40 the latte had run through me and I needed the bathroom. went to manager at door and said I'm Peter King I need to use the Mens room. The manager did not seem to recognize me and said I would have to wait. Good thing I had dark slacks on.

Finally the door opened at 6 am and there was a huge rush to the door. As I got inside I hear "Peter King what's up" It was Freddy Mitchel former receiver for the Eagles now the official greater for Walmart. I quickly said hi and told him I would see him on way out. I wanted to get a few of those DVD players before they were all gone.

Got to the electronics isle and noticed there was only one player left. A boy of 10 was pushing his grandmother in a wheel chair in direction of player. I needed that DVD more than she did. I stuck my foot out and tripped the boy and as he went down let go of the wheel chair and sent his grandmother careening into a candy cane display. Quickly grabbed the last DVD player and headed to check out.

 

Yes, I was being sarcastic. But, thanks, I had never heard either of those. I did work retail many, many, many years ago back during university. Did one year of those holidays and that was enough for me. Heck, I don't even venture out to retailers on that day anymore.

Seems like now, far too many retailers are open on Thanksgiving. Truthfully, they should follow Canada's lead, where Thanksgiving is today (second Monday in October).

 

On the contrary, they've never been more commercialized. And the run-up to the big ones is getting longer and longer. As far as Thanksgiving Day itself, it does seem headed in that direction with stores opening earlier and earlier.

I was at a Walmart in August a few years ago looking for a replacement lawn mower wheel, and they were already clearing space for (I assume) Christmas decorations in the lawn and garden department.