Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and American Celebrations:
Origins of Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a federal holiday in the United States, celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. The history of Thanksgiving Day dates back to the fall of 1621. The laborers, known as Pilgrims, received a bountiful harvest after a year of illness and shortage of food. This event took place in Plymouth Plantation in Massachusetts. They showed their gratitude to God and celebrated the occasion with a feast.
The Pilgrims, who were religious separatists seeking a new home where they could freely practice their faith, arrived on the Mayflower. After a treacherous and uncomfortable crossing that lasted 66 days, they dropped anchor near the tip of Cape Cod. One month later, the Mayflower crossed Massachusetts Bay, where the Pilgrims began the work of establishing a village at Plymouth.
Throughout that first brutal winter, most of the colonists remained on board the ship, where they suffered from exposure, scurvy, and outbreaks of contagious disease. Only half of the Mayflower’s original passengers and crew lived to see their first New England spring. In March, the remaining settlers moved ashore, where they received an astonishing visit from a member of the Abenaki tribe who greeted them in English. Several days later, he returned with another Native American, Squanto, a member of the Pawtuxet tribe. Squanto taught the Pilgrims, weakened by malnutrition and illness, how to cultivate corn, extract sap from maple trees, catch fish in the rivers, and avoid poisonous plants. He also helped the settlers forge an alliance with the Wampanoag, a local tribe.
Controversies Surrounding Thanksgiving
Despite its origins as a day of gratitude and harvest festival, Thanksgiving has been the subject of controversy. Many Americans—including people of Native American ancestry—believe Thanksgiving celebrations mask the true history of oppression and bloodshed that underlies the relationship between European settlers and Native Americans.
The period of history in America is frequently white-washed, which leads some Americans to ignore, or condemn, the holiday. Not only is Thanksgiving offensive to Indigenous people, but it glorifies colonialism, slavery, and even epidemics. Many Americans who celebrate Thanksgiving have no idea just how cruel the holiday’s origins are, while those who do may choose to either boycott the holiday, or just use it as an excuse to express general gratitude, gather with family, and eat comfort foods.
For many Indigenous communities, Thanksgiving remains a National Day of Mourning – a reminder of the genocide and displacement that occurred following European settler colonialism.
Black Friday
Black Friday is a commercial phenomenon that has become an integral part of the Thanksgiving holiday period. It is the day after Thanksgiving and is traditionally seen as the start of the Christmas shopping season.
Retailers offer significant discounts on Black Friday, making it one of the busiest shopping days of the year. Deals are available across a wide range of products, from electronics and appliances to clothing and toys.
In recent years, online shopping has become increasingly popular on Black Friday. Many retailers now start their Black Friday sales early and extend them over the weekend through to Cyber Monday. This shift to online shopping has been driven by the convenience it offers, as well as the ability to compare deals and prices across different retailers.
Black Friday has also spread beyond the United States and is now observed in many other countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia.
Modern Trends of Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving has evolved over the years and has seen some modern trends:
Non-traditional Menu: While traditional Thanksgiving food is great, the same menu year after year can get old. Non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner ideas bring new life to classic recipes.
Decorations: Thanksgiving décor is all about celebrating the beauty and bounty of the fall season. Many holiday-appropriate decorations can take you all the way from Halloween through Turkey Day.
Outdoor Celebrations: If you’re celebrating Thanksgiving in a mild climate, take the party outdoors.
Shopping: More than a third of those celebrating Thanksgiving in the U.S. expect to pay more for the Thanksgiving meal, but they plan to purchase their usual amount. Consumers shop early for spot deals, but most Thanksgiving basket purchases occur the week prior and the week of Thanksgiving.
Commercially, Thanksgiving is celebrated in various ways:
Advertising: Many brands create on-brand, Thanksgiving adverts that go viral and win hearts over.
Sales: The day after Thanksgiving is known as Black Friday and usually has large commercial sales and shopping for the Christmas season.
Parades: Parades have also become a big part of the holiday. Among the largest in the country is the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in New York City, which attracts more than two million spectators every year.
How American Workers Celebrate Thanksgiving
American workers celebrate Thanksgiving in different ways:
Potluck at Work: In the spirit of togetherness, a potluck with the team is a common practice.
Learning About Native American History: Some workplaces use this time to educate their employees about Native American history.
Giving Back: Many workplaces organize volunteering activities for their employees.
Paid Holidays: Some companies offer Wednesday & Friday as paid holidays during Thanksgiving week.
Showing Gratitude: Employers show their employees that they’re thankful for them.
Watching Movies or TV Shows Together: Some workplaces organize movie or TV show screenings for a fun bonding activity.
Thanksgiving 2023: A Celebration in Theaters, Concerts, and Public Events
Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends, and entertainment. This year, theaters across the country are offering a variety of shows to celebrate the holiday season.
Fandango’s survey reveals that 83% of ticket-buyers plan to watch at least one film in theaters this holiday season. Some of the most anticipated wide-release movies include ‘The Marvels’, ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’, ‘Wonka’, ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’, and ‘Napoleon’.
In Las Vegas, shows such as the Blue Man Group, O by Cirque du Soleil, America’s Got Talent Live, Michael Jackson ONE Show, The Beatles LOVE, Shin Lim Magic Show, and V – The Ultimate Variety Show are scheduled for Thanksgiving Day.
Music is a big part of the holiday season, and there are plenty of concerts happening around Thanksgiving. In Las Vegas, concerts and shows like the Blue Man Group, Potted Potter, Jabbawockeez, David Copperfield, Adam London, WOW – The Vegas Spectacular, Banachek’s Mind Games, Soul of Motown, Marriage Can Be Murder, Cirque du Soleil – Michael Jackson: ONE, Mat Franco, Criss Angel: Mindfreak, Vegas! The Show, iLuminate, OPM, Comedy Cellar, V – The Ultimate Variety Show, Cirque du Soleil – The Beatles: Love, Cirque du Soleil – O, and MJ Live are scheduled for November 23, 2023.
Public events are a great way to get into the holiday spirit. In New York City, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is returning to the Manhattan streets on November 22, 2023, to celebrate the turkey-filled holiday. The parade will feature giant balloons, floats, marching bands, performers, and clowns as millions of people venture into the city to watch the procession.
In Rochester, NY, the holiday season kicks off with a flurry of activities and special holiday-themed events as early as Thanksgiving weekend. Some of the events include the Genesee Keg Tree Lighting, Lighting of The Liberty Pole, Roc Holiday Village, Sweet Creations Gingerbread House Display, Gala Holiday Pops, Geva Theatre Center’s A Christmas Carol, and Genesee Country Village & Museum’s Yuletide in The Country Tours.
In Boston, there are several events planned for Thanksgiving. Some of the events include picking up a professional pie supporting Community Servings, visiting an Emerald Necklace park, and volunteering for a local organization.
Whether you’re a movie buff, a music lover, or just looking for a fun way to celebrate the holiday, there’s something for everyone this Thanksgiving. Please note that the timings and locations of these events may vary, so it’s always a good idea to check the official websites or contact the event organizers for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
Which companies make their years’ worth of sale in this season compare it with Christmas sales
The holiday season, which includes both Thanksgiving and Christmas, is a crucial time for many businesses, particularly those in the retail sector. It’s reported that holiday sales represent 20 percent of annual sales across most industries, and in some industries, this figure rises to 30 percent or more1.
During the Thanksgiving season, some of the leading companies in U.S. retail that record substantial sales include Walmart, Amazon, The Kroger Co., Costco, and Target2. In fact, Amazon reported that the holiday shopping weekend was its “biggest ever,” with consumers purchasing hundreds of millions of products during the period3.
As for the Christmas season, it’s also a significant time for sales. The winter holiday season includes shopping occasions such as Thanksgiving weekend, Super Saturday – the last Saturday before Christmas, and Christmas itself2. In 2022, Christmas retail sales reached 929.5 billion U.S. dollars4. Companies that get more than 30 percent of their annual revenue from the holiday quarter include the two big toymakers — Hasbro and Mattel — as well as cosmetics brands, department stores, and jewelers5.
It’s important to note that the comparison between sales during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons can be complex due to several factors. For instance, a quirk with the calendar can mean there are fewer shopping days between Thanksgiving and Christmas, which can skew the figures for that period6. To compensate, retailers often start their seasonal sales earlier, some as early as October.
Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons are vital for many businesses, and a significant portion of their annual sales is made during this period. However, the exact figures can vary greatly depending on the specific industry and company.
