To some it kicks off the Christmas season. People, still full of the their thanksgiving feast, wake up at the crack of dawn and wait in line for hours  to get the best deals possible on TV’s, clothes, and many other items. This one day is dedicated to hardcore shopping where people are willing to do whatever it takes to get what they want. There are over Its is not unheard of to hear stories about people pulling guns on children or punching another for the perfect holiday gift.

Every year Black friday comes and goes bringing enough money to keep stores such as Wal-mart and Target going for another year, and with the current economy, changes have had to be made to increase competition. As always, with change there come mixed opinions.

“I have great memories of going shopping with my mom and sisters on Black Friday growing up.  I think it was primarily department stores back then, and I think the earliest they opened was 6AM on Black Friday.  When you walked in, you could get a box of Cracker Jacks, and the prize would be a coupon.  The grand prize was a diamond ring. Of course, I never won this,” said Katie Long, middle school teacher.

Black Friday is a family tradition for many Americans. It is a time to get a good deal and spend time with loved ones. These days, in the heat of the competition,  people are going out earlier and fighting  over the last of what they want. This year on Black Friday, the competition was kicked up another notch. The stores opened as early as 9 o’clock Thursday night.

“Since then, it seems like more and more places have gotten in on the game and have opened at 4 am and midnight.  Now it feels a little too competitive for me to get in on the game,” said Long.

Some did not like the changes. Employees at stores such as Wal-mart began online petitions to prevent having to work on the family holiday. The stores didn’t change their minds about the opening time. The economy beat the needs of the workers.

“It does make me a little sad for those who have to work those shifts, especially if it takes them away from their families on Thanksgiving day,” said Long.

Those workers had to work instead of spending time with their families on Thanksgiving. Shopping is a common American pastime, but it may be taking precedent over family time.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea. It takes away the specialness of both holidays. Families have time on Thanksgiving, and as shoppers, Black Friday is like a fun holiday, but is beginning to lose its value.” said Anna Huynh, freshman.

Huynh, like others, wonders whether the holidays still hold their value. Thanksgiving is supposed to be a time of being thankful for what one has, but now it is cut short by the need to buy more stuff. The new opening times may have been helpful for those who had to work on Friday, but it was unhelpful for those who couldn’t get the best deal because they were busy eating dinner.

“We went at 11:30 to Target and got some really good deals, and then went to the mall at midnight. They were both crazy, and people were everywhere. I did get many ideas while shopping because my whole family went after our guests left. We certainly didn’t push them out the door so we could shop,” said Kathy Wibbenmeyer, upper school parent.

Although there was some controversy about Black Friday, there were people who were able to enjoy themselves and they didn’t have to go out on Thanksgiving.

“It was really fun to watch all of the people going crazy over sales. Even though I didn’t buy anything, I had such a fun time with my friends and sister,” said Kaylee Trost, senior.

People like Trost were able to keep the tradition of the holidays alive and not let the big sales get the best of them. In the midst of the consumerism madness, there is a glimmer of hope that family tradition is still alive.

Some stores have stayed true to the holiday spirit. Nordstrom’s holiday campaign supported the family values. Their poster said that they would “take the holidays one day at a time.” They represented the needs of their employees and put that before their sales.

Black Friday also marked the coming of the holiday season. Many people are still rushing to get last minute shopping done. The race is on for the best deals and trying to get everything done before the quickly approaching holiday.

“I still have about 70 percent of my shopping to do. I don’t usually finish until the last minute, always waiting for a sale. It ends up being a panic of course. I keep getting coupons over the internet, so I hold out till I get a good one. Its easier to cyber shop,” said Wibbenmeyer.

There is still a lot more shopping to do for most people, and the internet has become a much more convenient way of shopping that has affected Christmas sales. It is easier for people who work and don’t have the time to go out and shop. For this reason, stores weren’t as full as usual, and more and more people choose to shop online.

Some may be wondering what is going to happen next year as well. Stores have already upped their game by opening a few hours earlier, and it leaves people asking how the hours will change next year. As cyber shopping continues to increase, stores are going to have to do something to keep afloat in the rough economy.