Did you know "Black Friday" isn't the biggest shopping day of the year?

[emeleel]

'Tis true:

http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/shopping.asp

[murasaki]

Too funny.

--naomi

[mjfrombuffalo[$]]

I learned that the first time I worked in the mall for a Christmas season. The Saturday before was always the worst day ever.

[theworm[$]]

When I was a dept manager at a Department Store, my floor was near the main entrance. On Christmas Eve, the rest of the 8 story store was empty, my floor was packed. They called all the dept managers from the upper floors down to work my cash registers because the staff couldn't handle it. When the closing bell rang, I cried (literally!). I MAY shop on Black Friday, but you won't catch me shopping on Christmas Eve day!!!

[lynnzop[$]]

I can't open the link, but I believe the actual busiest day, dollar-wise, is usually the Saturday before Christmas. Black Friday is simply the kick off to the whole season. (It's also a good indicator of how things will go for the rest of the season.)

I am so glad I'm out of retail.

[arianej]

My dad used to do that... He'd start his Christmas shopping on Christmas Eve, which meant fighting the hideous crowds at the mall. For a guy who doesn't like shopping (unless it's for computer parts), it sure seemed like a masochistic thing to do.

I think he's given up that practice, though. Hopefully.

Ariane, who almost has all her Christmas shopping done. So... close...!!

[brian_igo]

arianej said

My dad used to do that... He'd start his Christmas shopping on Christmas Eve, which meant fighting the hideous crowds at the mall. For a guy who doesn't like shopping (unless it's for computer parts), it sure seemed like a masochistic thing to do.

Once again, the male sense of humor is misunderstood. "Fighting the hideous crowds"? Nah, this is the hap-happiest time of the year, especially if you go into the mall on Christmas Eve and shout "They just got a truckload of Tickle Me Barbie's (or Malibu Elmo's) at Toy Planet!" The reaction can keep you smiling until Easter.

If you don't want to risk a(nother) charge of inciting a riot, just watching the panicked and obsessed is one of the great forms of free entertainment. While others rush to and fro searching for that perfect gift, we take comfort in our masculine heritage and relish choosing between an avocado green crock pot and the steaming hair curler set. We're men. We're supposed to screw this up. Hell, if we came home and said we had to run through six stores before we found the right mauve sweater for Aunt Gert, our families would be convinced we were seriously ill and who wants to put that kind of stress on them at the holidays?

So when you take that combination flashlight/radio/emergency beacon from Dad or DH out of the WalMart bag that appeared under the tree sometime late on December 24, remember it was his pleasure.





Brian

[ms_n]

Ha!

I'm glad I'm done shopping. Anything I get now would be on impulse and stupid. I'm staying out of the malls and taking Eris' advice. Bah, humbug to the malls. Christmas music in the home for now.

[theworm[$]]

Got my niece and SIL Christmas gifts at Bed Bath and Beyond today. Have one more gift to buy, and I'll get something on the web. No more stores for me this season (I hope!!!)