Every year Americans make their way to the shops to get the best Black Friday deals. They push their way through the crowds to get the latest toaster or waffle maker. Some even camp outside for hours and days to get the “doorbuster” deals.
Only a few hours after sitting around the table talking about what they are grateful for in life and eating their traditional stuffed turkey Thanksgiving dinners, they head out for their materialistic need for the new iPhone.
As a foreigner visiting this great country, Black Friday is craziness.
Before I came here to study, I had some knowledge of the day because every year “Black Friday” hits the news in Europe with a new headline about the crazy Americans.
According to Forbes, about one in five shoppers have never missed Black Friday and the majority (93%) of shoppers are willing to wake up early to shop.
This year, Ala Moana shopping center in Honolulu will open its doors for the special day at midnight. They literally can’t wait.
Walmart, in the same area, has its doors open 24 hours a day. The iPhone 5 will be on sale for $79 and the iPhone 6 for $179.
After seeing the footage from a Walmart store opening during this holiday, the consumers act almost like “Katniss” and fight to the deaths like they do in the “Hunger Games.”
There actually exists a website dedicated to count the number of deaths and injuries caused by Black Friday shopping. In 2008 an employee at the Long-Island Walmart was trampled to death and in 2011 Walter Vance was trampled on and died at Target.
The website also record an incident that happened in 2013, where a teen driving home after a long day of Black Friday shopping fell asleep at the wheel and died and caused injuries to others.
The number currently stands on seven deaths and 97 injuries, which is crazy high and show that shopping can be dangerous business.
Some people are even so enthusiastic and optimistic about getting the best deals that they camp outside the stores for days beforehand.
Other people take it a little more lightly and show up later in the day. The challenges that are faced during are lines so long that it’s difficult finding the end of it, fighting your way through masses of people looking for their new item, no parking and rush hour traffic.
The American holiday culture is a little different from what I am used to back in little Norway. In our culture during the major holidays, all stores close down so that people will have time to spend with their families.
During Christmas all stores expect gas stations are closed from December 24 until December 26, something you would never see in America.
Don’t get me wrong materialism exists everywhere, but it really shows it self on Black Friday in America. Why is it so important for people to have these materialistic things in their life?
If you are one of the first people in line for the best deals I urge you to take some time to reflect on why it is you need this thing, how it betters your life and what things you value and have priority in life.
