Has Thanksgiving Been Canceled?

Has Thanksgiving been canceled? Not yet, but we are quickly approaching that reality.

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite days of the year. It is supposed to be a day of family, food and football. No gifts are exchanged, so there is not as much stress. It would seem that Thanksgiving is the least commercialized of all the major holidays. While that is one of the reasons I enjoy the day, it is also one of its biggest weaknesses.

Over the past few decades there has been a growing emphasis on the day after Thanksgiving. Black Friday has grown to eclipse Thanksgiving. Over the past few years people have begun to use Thanksgiving as a planning day for Black Friday. Now many stores are starting Black Friday on Thanksgiving!

I understand the importance of Black Friday to merchants. It is the day their sales for the year jump from red to black on their ledgers. A poor Black Friday can mean a poor December, which leads to a poor 4th quarter and possible bankruptcy. Merchants need the sales and are willing to sacrifice Thanksgiving.

I also understand the importance of Black Friday to the average consumer. Times are difficult and money is tight. People are looking for bargains and are willing to give up Thanksgiving to get a deal.
Unfortunately on the day of Black Friday there will be fights over a cheap computers. People will stand for hours in line to get a gift. Employees will be forced to sacrifice time with family in order to keep a job.

Perhaps the drive for gifts and the materialism of Christmas has consumed a simple holiday of Thanks. Can the trend be reversed? Not likely. As long as Christmas remains a holiday of consumption and greed the more Thanksgiving will be eclipsed and eventually consumed by the black hole of Black Friday. Perhaps if we restore the true meaning of Christmas, the Incarnation of Jesus Christ to bring salvation, then we will be able to restore the meaning of Thanksgiving, giving Thanks to God for His blessings.