RIP Thanksgiving .

[pigletgirl]

What is BBM?

bolded by me.

 

[arminnie]

How is it that your bank is open when thanksgiving is a federal holiday?

The teller lines may not be open but I'd bet a whole bunch of you would scream like crazy if your Visa or MC couldn't be used on a holiday.

Everyone needs to just grow up. Sometimes one has to work when you don't want to. That's life.

I taught computer classes and had to work on Thanksgiving day plus virtually every other holiday from the 4th of July to NY Day. I didn't piss and moan. I just did my job that I was being paid for.

If you do not spend time with your loved ones unless it is a holiday then you have bigger problems.

 

[disneychrista]

If you do not spend time with your loved ones unless it is a holiday then you have bigger problems.

This is what I do not get. Everyone is making such a big deal about this being a family day. I do not need a random day on a calendar to tell me to spend time with my family.

 

[Missy1961]

I don't think I've seen anyone here complaining that some Old Navy/Gap/Banana Republic stores will be opening at 9AM on Thanksgiving.

 

[molliewalks]

My turn!! Let me put on my flame suit, then i'll begin. Ok, all zipped up, so here goes!! I will be shopping Thanksgiving evening. I will wake up at 5am, get ready, get kids and husband up. Eat a quick breakfast, load all of our dinner 'supplies' (turkey, ham, sides, pots, pans etc) and go to my MIL's house. When we get there, she and her husband will still be asleep. I will start cooking our dinner, yes, i will have the tv on, i will stop for coffee on the way to her house. With my memory, i will probably need gas as well. She is handicapped and can't do a full dinner by herself. We are staying with relatives right now while waiting for our house and it's not accessible, so dinner here is a no-go, so we have to go to her. Dinner will be ready by 1, 2 at the latest. During that time we talk, play games, take turns basting the turkey, spending time as a family. The rest of the family (both sides) will turn up at different times. When everything is cooked, we will sit down as a family and enjoy our meal. If everyone hasn't made it, we will heat a plate up when they get there. Then we will clean up, spend a bit more time there, but my MIL will be exhausted and need to lay down by 5. We will go home, put leftovers in fridge and head out for some shopping. I feel bad for the employees that aren't at home at that moment, and i will thank them for working, but they are already there, so it's not going to do any good to say 'I'm not shopping, (store name here) will NOT have my support!!'. The demand is there, so stores are fulfilling it. Want good deals? We got them! Everyone is looking for a deal in this economy, the trend has started, nothing will stop it. Don't fear the change, adapt to it. I think that the majority of people, for whatever reasons, have had to miss out on a few hours of holiday days. People need to work, money needs to be made to pay bills. Emergencies happen, people want to be entertained, everything makes the wheel go round. Wal-mart and K-mart by me were open at 6am thanksgiving day last year with sales. They closed at 10am. Opened back up at 7/8? People were shopping then too. The world didn't explode because some stores were open, plans just needed to be changed. Ok, i'm starting to ramble enjoy the hours you do have with your family, every single moment you have is special, holiday or not.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[ORMom2Four]

Yeah, it doesn't bother me that stores are opening on Thursday. The McD's down the street from us is also open, in case someone would rather have a Big Mac and fries instead of turkey & stuffing

DD worked every Thanksgiving as a teen. The mall opened at midnight, she had to be there at 10pm to get ready.

Black Friday sales completely changed with the explosion of internet access. My mom, sisters, and I would use to sit around after dinner every Thanksgiving pouring over the ads that had just come out that morning. We don't even buy the paper anymore. Now you can see ad scans of the Black Friday sale ads weeks in advance. Many stores post the sale prices online too, and I'd rather do my shopping online instead of braving the crowds anyway

 

[sam_gordon]

No tinker you are right there is no reason for any retail place to be open thanksgiving, Xmas eve after 8pm, Xmas day or Easter.

Except gas station everyone should be closed.

Yes police, fire , health, hotels, gas station and that's it.

Ill even say it and get flamed Disney parks too.

We don't need to shop on these days, shoppers need to prepare for the closure.

I know my comment isn't popular, and very simplistic in it view but really there is nothing in walmarts that I need on those days.

Why don't hotel and gas station employees deserve to spend time with their families?

If I was an employee, I'd be glad the stores were opening earlier on Thanksgiving. Then I'd have a better chance of working a close to normal shift instead of having to be in at 1 or 2 in the morning. I don't like drastic shift changes, especially for just one day.

 

[lauradis]

Why Gas Stations?

Because most people travel and need gas 365 days a year.

 

[sam_gordon]

Because most people travel and need gas 365 days a year.

Why can't the travelling people plan ahead and get gas the day before? Those gas station employees deserve to be with their families too!

No one buy gas on Thanksgiving to protest the stations being open!

 

[lauradis]

And there you have it, if you don't need or want to shop on that day then all things should be closed, except for gas station I guess in case you need gas. Or Disney in case you wanted to get away and eat and shop there.

I eat at home on Thanksgiving, I don't need gas, they should all be closed that day.
I don't go to Disney during Thanksgiving break, they should be closed on Thanksgiving day.
I do however need to save some money on a number of Christmas presents and since Walmart is usually the lowest priced store, they should be open.
See, we can all play that way.

Well lets see my family is filled with police and fire, I work part time at a hotel. So basically I will not shop on those holidays because I know what it feels like to not have family to celebrate with on those holidays.

So yep it's all about me

 

[MIGrandma]

This is what I do not get. Everyone is making such a big deal about this being a family day. I do not need a random day on a calendar to tell me to spend time with my family.

Exactly!

We have always hosted Christmas at our house ON Christmas Day, but last year the kids (adult) asked if it would be okay to get together on a different day so they could stay home with their own families. I had absolutely no problem with that, in fact I know I had told them before that if they ever wanted to do that I would completely understand. So now we get together and celebrate Christmas, as a family, either before or after the actual holiday. It's getting together that's important, not what day it is.

As for shopping on Thanksgiving, it doesn't bother me. Those that want to can shop, those that don't want to don't have to.

And anyone who works in retail knows the hours they work aren't always going to be perfect. It just goes with the job.

When I was the newest employee at a video store many years ago I had to work on Christmas Day. It was from noon - 4:00 and while I wasn't happy about it, I knew going in that I probably would have to work it since I was the "new person." I just had to suck it up and do it, since I did enjoy the job and wanted to keep it.

 

[luvmy3]

Well lets see my family is filled with police and fire, I work part time at a hotel. So basically I will not shop on those holidays because I know what it feels like to not have family to celebrate with on those holidays.

So yep it's all about me

And I guess you are the only one? Please.

FTR, I don't get together with my family on Thanksgiving for various reasons, but somehow we manage to get together for a Thanksgiving celebration on another day.
If your family can't seem to find the time to spend time together on a different day, then your issue should be with your family, not the businesses that are open on a particular day

 

[disney1990]

Is he working the entire day? We've changed our dinner times over the years to accommodate people if we could. I have several nurses and a few doctors in the family so missing relatives is nothing new. Sometimes people have to work and no one is forcing them to take any particular job.

I work retail part time, but thankfully we are closed Thanksgiving Day. It would be a real issue if I had to work. My daughter is an RN, she is working 12 hour shifts on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Thanksgiving Day is the only day she is off so that everybody has a day to get together.

I am not a fan of stores opening on Thanksgiving. I just don't understand why people have to shop every single day of the year.

I wouldn't hold my breathe because I see a day in the not too distance future when stores feel that they have to open on Christmas Day.

 

[mnrose]

Too many people no longer care for Thanksgiving or come from a place that doesn't have it and it has no meaning to them. So those people will shop. Too bad, really. Those should be the one's that work it.

Oh no. That wouldn't work. If the shoppers had to work, they couldn't shop. Must.spend.money. Must.try.to.make.myself.happy.with.stuff.

We are such a culture of "the more THINGS the better."

 

[eliza61]

And I guess you are the only one? Please.

FTR, I don't get together with my family on Thanksgiving for various reasons, but somehow we manage to get together for a Thanksgiving celebration on another day.
If your family can't seem to find the time to spend time together on a different day, then your issue should be with your family, not the businesses that are open on a particular day

Hi Luv

I'm going to put my flame retardant suit on.

For me it goes a bit deeper than just getting together for family.

One of the reasons the holidays use to be so important WAS because it force you to STOP and at least think.

Some one mention some thing about spending time with family. The truth of the matter is most of us are "Together" but not "aware". Sure I'm with my family in some form or fashing 24/7 but it's in the mudane every day life. Real life is rote, routine, hetic. It rarely gives us the opportunity to stop,pause reflect.

Holidays and traditions serve a vital function in society. It forces us to reexamine those things we hold dear. the reality is that for most of the year, Veterans are forgotten. Veterans day is meant for us to take a break from our daily lives and examine exactly why we have this day. To honor those who did some thing.

We have now gotten to the point as a society (because I know every one here will swear how their family is sooo different) where we hold NOTHING special or sacred except for the consumption of material goods.
Holidays are rarely advertised for their meaning. now they are only good in terms of what sales they bring.

I miss the times when we at least "paused" to exam these day. I have now seen 9/11 with white sales. because nothing commemorates the killing of 3000 american civilians like getting your sheets at 1/2 price.

One thing I have to give the sponser and pushers behind MLK day a lot of credit for is that they really work to keep the spirit of the man honored by making it a National day of service.

Christmas used to mean some thing to this country as a society. I am sad that we have denigrated the meaning of the day down to who gets the bigger gifts and even if you were not a christian, you at least acknowledged the spirit behind the day.

Just my take

 

[luvmy3]

Hi Luv

I'm going to put my flame retardant suit on.

For me it goes a bit deeper than just getting together for family.

One of the reasons the holidays use to be so important WAS because it force you to STOP and at least think.

Some one mention some thing about spending time with family. The truth of the matter is most of us are "Together" but not "aware". Sure I'm with my family in some form or fashing 24/7 but it's in the mudane every day life. Real life is rote, routine, hetic.

Holidays and traditions serve a vital function in society. It forces us to reexamine those things we hold dear. the reality is that for most of the year, Veterans are forgotten. Veterans day is meant for us to take a break from our daily lives and examine exactly why we have this day.

We have now gotten to the point as a society (because I know every one here will swear how their family is sooo different). Where we hold NOTHING special or sacred except for the consumption of material goods.
Holidays are rarely advertised for their meaning. now they are only good in terms of what sales they bring.

I miss the times when we at least "pause" to exam these day. I have now seen 9/11 with white sales. because nothing commemorates the killing of 3000 american civilians like getting your sheets at 1/2 price.

One thing I have to give the sponser and pushers behind MLK day a lot of credit for is that they really work to keep the spirit of the man honored by making it a National day of service.

Christmas used to mean some thing to this country as a society. I am sad that we have denigrated the meaning of the day down to who gets the bigger gifts and even if you were not a christian, you at least acknowledged the spirit behind the day.

I don't think you needed a flame suit for that, it is very well said and I actually do agree with you.

My point to the pp, is that for decades, perhaps even longer, families have been forced for one reason or another to re-arrange their holiday schedules.
Thanksgiving for me, isn't about getting together on the 3rd Thursday of November because that is what the calender says, its about getting together with my love ones who I am so very thankful for. I do believe that a Holiday (whatever one it is) is what you choose to make it, so it isn't necessarily about the day it falls on, it is about how we choose to honor/celebrate it with your family that is important.

 

[leebee]

Fortunately, the powers that be in Maine haven't lost their senses yet. It's against state law to open retail stores about a certain square footage/income level on Thanksgiving... or at least the law was in effect last year!

I used to work in a convenience food store and loved working on Thanksgiving morning. Everyone was in a good mood and only forgotten items: cranberry sauce and whipping cream were our biggest sellers. However, working on T-giving was an optional situation, and volunteers were the first to be given a shift. As there was only one person ever scheduled for any shift, there usually wasn't an issue getting enough volunteers... that and being paid double time and a half for working on the holiday!

I feel badly for the employees of the big box stores who suddenly, after years and years of not having to work on holidays, now find they are required to show up or lose their jobs. It's ridiculous the amount of time and money Americans spend in the big box stores and on shopping. They could forego this one day, IMO, and wait until midnight to do the Black Friday thing. When will enough ever be enough?

 

[Praying Colonel]

I don't think I've seen anyone here complaining that some Old Navy/Gap/Banana Republic stores will be opening at 9AM on Thanksgiving.

Too easy to take a swipe at the Walmart Bogey Man.

 

[HippieChickadee]

when I was in high school, my mother and me left my dad and rest of family on thanksgiving because I would travel to NYC to be in the mace's thanksgiving day parade.

Great memories and great opportunities, but looking back on it as an adult I feel so bad for leaving my dad alone

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

I don't think this is new.

My husband and I have been married for 17 years and have NEVER had a Thanksgiving dinner together. He works a 16 hour shift that day and gets paid for working 44 hours. Its huge money and relatively easy - and pays for some of my black friday shopping!

I spend the day with family and friends and then go to the movies at night.