Melting Snow

Thankful Thursday: Thoughts on Holiday Shopping

Thursday, November 17, 2016

My Bah Humbug mood
Arrives around Black Friday
Will last until New Year's Day

The "Blog City ~ Every Blogger's Paradise"  prompt for Day 983
At the root of joy is gratitude and both abound in this annual autumn repast. From far and wide, loved ones gather to share a simple banquet with those they love. I love Christmas but I feel stores start putting Christmas items out too early and we need to remember Thanksgiving and give it, it's day. Black Friday should start Friday not Thanksgiving Day. I would love to hear your thoughts on this.

I enjoy and have always enjoyed Thanksgiving. It doesn't matter to me whether I'm alone, with family, or with my friends. I like Thanksgiving for the memories it brings back. Some of the things I'm thankful for on Thanksgiving is turkey, dressing, and sweet potatoes. When I'm alone I eat a turkey T.V. dinner and canned yams. If I'm with friends or family then we usually have an old fashion Thanksgiving dinner.

It' doesn't matter to me whether stores remain open on Thanksgiving because I know, despite what other people say, that there are some people who don't mind working on Thanksgiving for one reason or another. Some of them don't have family and being alone on that day causes depression. If they work then they don't have time to get depressed which sometimes leads to drinking or some other self destructive behavior. Other people would prefer to work on Thanksgiving because they need the money or they don't consider Thanksgiving a holiday.

I don't go shopping on Black Friday because of the crowds. I don't like going into shopping malls or any store that is crowded where I have to deal with wall-to-wall people. I prefer to shop under less crowded conditions because it's safer and I don't get pissed with the crowd or the drivers. I don't like getting upset on holidays or any other day because it brings my blood pressure up.

I enjoy shopping, but I'm not crazy about holiday shopping. The Christmas holiday shopping is especially stressful because people get angry at the most inconsequential things. Some people get pissed if you say "Happy Holidays" while other are irritated because you say "Merry Christmas". I'm of the opinion that "Merry Christmas" should be said to people you know celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday and not just a day to get presents or get drunk.

I don't celebrate Christmas unless I'm with someone who does celebrate and then I participate in their celebration. I have one brother who celebrates Hanukkah and another who celebrates Christmas. I don't celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday. I know many people who are of different non-Christian religions who don't celebrate Christmas as any type of holiday.