Business

Keep ‘Thanks’ in Thanksgiving

By Mike Botta

Perhaps the greatest thing about Thanksgiving Day is that it truly is an American holiday, a time to spend with family and close friends, and to be thankful for everything important in our lives.

It’s also that rare holiday that has managed to remain largely untouched by outside factors, be they gift-giving occasions, religious obligations, or political statements.

Friday Becomes Thursday

Well, maybe not anymore unless Americans make it very clear this Thursday and Friday that Thanksgiving is a “sacred” family holiday not to be messed with in any way, shape or form. 

That includes opening stores at 12:01 a.m. on Black Friday. By the calendar and clock, that doesn’t affect Thanksgiving Day.

To the hundreds of thousands of workers required to report for duty, nap time will begin before the turkey cools down. To the millions of consumers ready to stand on line at 8 p.m. in hopes of getting one of the few real bargains out there, Thanksgiving night will become just another Thursday evening.

And, already, some companies have advanced their opening times into Thursday evening. One chain, Toys ‘R’ Us, that last year opened at 10 p.m. Thanksgiving night, plans to open up at 9 p.m. this year. Does anyone see a pattern developing here?

Unique Celebration

Thanksgiving is unlike any other holiday during the year.

Martin Luther King Day honors the person most identified with the success of American Civil Rights movement, and finally setting America straight on equality for all.

But, coming so close on the heels of Christmas and New Year’s, it tends to be observed by many people as a chance to catch a breather from the just-concluded holiday season and a last opportunity to return all those unwanted gifts before the returns are no longer accepted.

It’s Only for George, By George 

Washington’s Birthday is purely an American holiday, but it’s more of a “textbook” holiday. In other words, Americans born, raised and schooled here learned volumes about George Washington, the Father of Our Country.

Immigrants who never heard a word about George Washington still know what he looked like since his image graces every U.S. dollar bill and quarter coin.

But, Washington’s Birthday generally is treated more like a mid-winter holiday, the first big break from work and school since returning from the Christmas and New Year’s celebrations.

In fact, most people seem to call the holiday President’s Day, even though the federal government never renamed the holiday after moving it to the third Monday in February. Many believe the holiday also honors Abe Lincoln and/or all of the U.S. presidents, but it doesn’t, by George.

Bunnies, BBQs and Blast-Off

Easter Sunday, while called a holiday, is only a holiday for people who otherwise work on Sundays. In recent years even that has been quietly changing. Easter is a religious celebration, a time for family gatherings, a nice dinner and then quickly back home to get the kids in bed so they’re up in time for school and the parents are off to work.

Which brings us to Memorial Day, a holiday that honors those who made the ultimate sacrifice in battle to preserve America’s freedom. Certainly it is so celebrated across the country by families of loved ones lost and those in the military.

But, unfortunately, most Americans seem to think of Memorial Day as the opening of beach and BBQ season. Similarly, Labor Day in September is thought of as the time to close the beaches, the backyard pools and get the snow blower serviced.

Fourth of July over the years has been thought of more as mid-summer vacation time (even though it isn’t in mid-summer), and a time to shoot legal or illegal “missiles” into the air.

The Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Whoever 

Columbus Day is an odd holiday. Few people outside of government get to celebrate it and many people outside of government have been fighting for years to convince the world that a) Columbus didn’t discover America, b) that he was or wasn’t Italian, Spanish or something else, c) that he was not a very nice person, or d) all of the above.

Either way, aside from the parade down 5^th Ave. in Manhattan, which has become highly political in nature in recent years, Columbus Day is usually a time when the few people with the day off get to buy new furniture or a new set of tires at a discounted price.

Honoring Heroes

Veteran’s Day is deeply meaningful to all who have served in our armed forces, who have loved-ones who have served or who take enough time to reflect on the sacrifice that the fighting men and women make for us each and every day.

It’s a time for great reflection and a chance to honor real American heroes. Outside of government, though, it remains a workday for many millions around the country.

Christmas in September

Which brings us to Christmas and New Year’s.

Christmas, of course, is a time for family celebration. In America, people of all faiths often celebrate the spirit of the holiday season, whether before, after or on December 25, depending upon their religious beliefs.

Not to diminish the spirit of Christmas in any way, over the years the holiday has become a huge retail sales bonanza, which once-upon-a-time didn’t start until after Thanksgiving. Today stores start breaking out the Christmas gear right after Labor Day.

Bucking the Trend

Which brings us back to Thanksgiving.

It is the one true American holiday and a time that family and friends gather just to spend time together without exchanging gifts, buying tires, or shooting off fireworks. Just time to talk – and eat – turkey and, for millions of people, to enjoy a four-day holiday with loved ones.

This week, let’s hope that Americans by the millions resist the urge to spoil the one true American holiday just to save $20 on a BlueRay player or a new set of sheets.

Maybe the move by the big stores to open at midnight this time around will rile enough people to finally send a strong message to the retail establishment: Keep “Thanks” in Thanksgiving.

Our best to you, your family and your close friends for a wonderful and relaxing Thanksgiving Day, even if crazy Uncle Buck is coming for dinner. After all, he is a member of the family and you don’t get to see him all that often.

Besides, it's a chance to once again confirm that he really is nuts.