We celebrate Thanksgiving at the end of November every autumn, setting off a month-long holiday season that carries us into a new year.  Families once sat down to dinner to share the things they are thankful for, but that tradition is slowly fading as a growing number of people seem more focused on starting their holiday shopping or falling in line to be among the first Black Friday beneficiaries.

Now, more shops are starting even earlier than Black Friday by opening their doors to shoppers on Thanksgiving day.  Is this right?  Are corporations trying to ruin Thanksgiving, and what’s the motivation behind shifting retail mayhem up a day?

There are some calendar irregularities that’s shortened this year’s holiday shipping days by six days, which happens about every seven years, and the fiscal calendar is one week shorter, which happens about every five years.

So to compensate for the shorter holiday shopping season, some corporations have declared that they will be open on Thanksgiving Day.

Kmart will be open from 6AM on Thanksgiving, its doors remaining open until 11PM on Black Friday.  Old Navy will be open from 9-4PM on Thanksgiving, with 700 stores will re-opening at 7PM of the same day and staying open until 11:59PM of Black Friday.  Target will open its stores from 8PM on Thanksgiving until 11PM of Black Friday.  Staples is open on Thanksgiving from 8PM to midnight, then 6AM to 9PM on Black Friday.  Sears, Macy’s, and Kohl’s will be open from 8PM on Thanskgiving until 10PM of Black Friday.  Best Buy and Simon’s Mall will be open from 6PM on Thanksgiving until 10PM of Black Friday.  Toys ‘R’ Us will be open from 5PM on Thanksgiving until 11PM the following day.  Michael’s will be open from 4PM to 2AM then open its doors once again at 7AM until 10PM on Black Friday.  J.C. Penny will be open from 8PM on Thanksgiving until 9PM of Black Friday.

The store who stole Thanksgiving

Though this may have delighted some shoppers who want to start their holiday shopping early, it’s enraged others.  One consumer, Nadja Gutowski, was so upset that she started an online petition asking shoppers to boycott these shops on Thanksgiving, and asking these establishments to leave the sales for Black Friday.

“It’s very tragic to me to see stores that [are] increasingly opening on the holiday, which is not only a stress to people who are planning on shopping, but also for the workers,” Gutowski said. “We all want the sales, but can you just hold them until Friday?”

Some shoppers took to the establishments’ Facebook pages to voice their concerns.  Some stated that instead of still being with their families, they will be forced to go shopping on Thanksgiving so they can get the best deal, instead of waiting for Black Friday.

Still, there are some shops who will not be stealing Thanksgiving from people.  Costco and BJ’s Wholesale Club have declared that they won’t be open on Thanksgiving and will be opening their doors only on Black Friday.  The main reason for this is that they want their workers to spend the holidays with their families, plus they have a loyal customer base so they are certain they won’t be missing out on much if they stay closed on Thanksgiving.  Other high-end shopping stores also choose to  remain close on Thanksgiving, as it is a long-standing tradition to unveil holiday decorations on Black Friday.

Fair to workers?

As for those thinking that the stores are being unfair to their workers who will be working on Thanksgiving, some argue that those workers have volunteered.

Joshua Englert, a Kmart employee, stated on Kmart’s Facebook page that he doesn’t “mind working Thanksgiving because the people I work are in a way my family! I can celebrate twice! :)”

Do all Kmart employees share his same sentiment?  Probably not, as some may be working because they may have been offered compensation in some form or another, while others have no place or people with which to spend Thanksgiving.

In the end, even if stores open on Thanksgiving, it is up to the people to prove these stores wrong.  If they really want Thanksgiving to be celebrated as it once was, then people would stay away from shopping on this day.  But if sales on Thanksgiving day are high, then in the coming years, we may see more stores opening their stores earlier than Black Friday.

photo credit: Cayusa via photopin cc

photo credit: jbhthescots via photopin cc