The Thanksgiving weekend focuses on the tradition of families assembling to enjoy each other’s company, a game of football and a turkey dinner with all the trimmings.
In what has revolved into more of a family day, Thanksgiving gives many individuals an opportunity to look back and then look forward, yet for the past decade, the day has come under attack from businesses more interested in making the sale than giving their employees off.
Lead by example: Costco, the giant discount supermarket chain, believes in the tradition of families staying home.
“Our employees work especially hard during the holiday season and we simply believe that they deserve the opportunity to spend Thanksgiving with their families,” a spokesperson told the website ThinkProgress. “Nothing more complicated than that.”
Many employees who must work tomorrow have told us they miss the days of spending time with families on this holiday; instead, they are trapped in Fallon for Thanksgiving, unable to see relatives hundreds of miles away.
To others, though, they look at the day as “just another work day” or for shoppers, they would rather race down the aisles, snatching up the latest bargains.
Initially, Black Friday shopping on Thanksgiving day began in the evening, some stores opening their doors between 8-10 p.m. Gradually, retailers began pushing the time back to where Thursday was an ordinary day for employees and a shopping mecca for those looking for a good deal.
Unfortunately, that’s the way American culture has evolved too. Generations ago, Halloween costumes and black cats came out in late September or early October, and anything Thanksgiving popped up after Halloween. Stores now begin to think about Christmas in September, a pattern that extends to the day itself and afterward with additional sales. It’s a faded memory for many now, when they remembered Christmas trees and decorations showing up in the stores the day after Thanksgiving.
Youngsters looked forward to seeing Santa after Thanksgiving as families strolled through the shopping malls or shops. Many families from Reno to Carson City to Fallon could be seen strolling in the former Park Lane Mall on a frosty morning, window shopping for that gift.
Many traditions are worth keeping, and the time spent with families is always priceless. Happy Thanksgiving from the staff of the Lahontan Valley News.
Editorials written by the Editorial Board appear on Wednesdays.