The Story Behind My Love of Black Friday

Whenever asked what my favorite holiday is, my answer is always immediate and simple. Black Friday. This answer makes most people giggle or elicits a look of confusion, but to me, this is the most meaningful day of the year in terms of family traditions and togetherness.

A Brief Holiday History

Going way way back, when I was little, we used to host Thanksgiving for family and friends at my childhood home in Cincinnati. We used to always shop on Friday but it was nothing we woke up early for or really put a lot of thought behind.

Years later, it became difficult for family to travel far distances at Thanksgiving and all holidays became a bit depressing for me as a * sort of * only child. Toward the end of high school, we would always celebrate with my favorite neighbors, which helped a lot, but from Thanksgiving through the New Year, I was still pretty down in the dumps.

The Year It All Began

In 2005, my freshman year of college, it was too expensive and I had too little time to get back to Ohio for Thanksgiving. So, my parents came down and we celebrated with family who live in my college state of Florida. While I was happy to be celebrating with them, I was missing my Cincinnati neighbors and still not digging the whole holiday season.

The day of Thanksgiving, we were watching TV and saw a commercial saying the outlet malls were open at midnight and all through the night to Black Friday. This had to be one of the first years of this trend because we all thought it was the craziest thing we’d ever heard. Of course, this is when most people think “well that sounds awful” but to the women in my family, it sounded like an adventure-slash-challenge waiting to happen.

After dinner we took quick naps and woke up around 11 to get to the mall for its opening and shopped all. night. long.

The Evolution of Tradition

Over the years we’ve gotten less intense in some respects and way more intense in others. Now we start before Thanksgiving dinner at 3 p.m. for the opening of Old Navy. It’s empty and they have early deals. From there, we go back home for dinner, and then out again around 10 p.m. since the malls now open even earlier.

We typically finish at the outlets around 3 or 4 and we drive home for a few hours of sleep before phase 3 begins.

After sleeping in a bit and making turkey sandwiches for lunch, we go to the standard mall and stand-alone stores like Target and Home Goods. We shop until dinner and cap the night off with a movie.

Why It’s So Important

For family that lives spread across the country, Black Friday marks a common interest that the women can all enjoy together. We’re a team. My mom waits in line for my Starbucks caffeine fix while I finish trying on clothes at J. Crew, my cousin helps her mom pick out new work shirts for her dad, and we all help my aunt carry her 347 Yankee Candles to the car.

Before leaving the outlet, we take an annual photo of the four of us with all of our bags.

My Black Friday Misconceptions

So many people ask me what I’m shopping for and how much I spend. While the answer to the second question is “none of your damn business (but usually $200 – $500),” the answer to the first usually shocks. Nothing. I might have a list of things to keep an eye out for, but I’m rarely looking for anything specific. It’s not about the shopping so much as it’s about the time we spend together. You can get far better deals a few weeks prior and if I never wait in a 2 a.m. line at Best Buy again it will be too soon.

So Why Not Do Something Else?

Honestly, I don’t know. This is just what works for our family. I totally understand some of the moral objections to Black Friday – sales folks missing out on family time, gluttonous consumer behavior, etc.

My only response is to share extra smiles and cheeriness with those who are working their asses off this Thursday and Friday.

 

So that’s it, my story behind Black Friday. Any activity or moment in time that can make the saddest time of my year to the happiest has my vote of approval!

If you’re more of a Cyber Monday fan, be sure to shop my online holiday gift guides – part 1, part 2, and part 3. If you’re heading to the malls this week – is there anything specific on your list?