Student Spectrums

Dania Rezwan Iqbal enjoys exploring various different topics concerning politics, health, and education. Through her writing, Dania hopes to bring change and spread awareness on issues affecting people’s lives.

Let’s face it, Thanksgiving is about shopping now, not the turkey. For centuries, Thanksgiving has been a holiday for families to come together, reflect on the blessings of life, and share a meal together to celebrate their gratitude, but overtime, this meaning has been overshadowed by consumerism and increased focus on purchasing and sales, often leading to overbuying and waste. Thanksgiving no longer holds the value that it once did, completely obscuring the concept of gratitude and instead taking a more acquisitive outlook. The focus on Thanksgiving sales and Black Friday have led to a shift from a family based holiday to a more commercial event where purchasing has become the main focus. 

Recently, I’ve realized just how much commercializing Thanksgiving has affected individuals like myself. Even with the dinner my family had planned last Thanksgiving, our focus throughout the meal was what shops to go and what things to buy. Instead of enjoying the meal and focusing on what we were grateful for, we were too preoccupied about going out afterwards to shop. When we did go out, we found ourselves in long lines, fighting with others on every deal we could lay our hands on. That night was chaotic, and instead of spending quality time with the people I love, I spent my time chasing deals that were meant to save our money, yet instead caused us to overspend. 

Early Black Friday deals have led to this commercialization of Thanksgiving. These deals start on Thanksgiving evening, shifting everyone’s focus away to a completely contrasting viewpoint, acquiring as many worldly materials as possible rather than being thankful.  The race to buy products leads to over-purchasing, waste, and the consumption of cheap, disposable items. Anne Blue Wills of JSTOR says “The emphasis on Black Friday creates societal pressure to participate in consumerism practices, sometimes leading to financial strain for families trying to keep up with sales.

Additionally, the competitive shopping culture contributes to stress and diminishes the holiday’s essence of gratitude.” Shipping and packaging waste contribute to environmental harm over time, making consumerism damaging not just to society but also to the environment. This completely ignores the idea that Thanksgiving is a time to appreciate what people already have. Thanksgiving is a day to rest and appreciate the people and blessings in everyone’s life. By understanding the negative effects of Black Friday and focusing on family and friends rather than on sales, people will be able to find joy in the holiday’s original purpose once more.

Simple solutions such as staying home and spending quality time with loved ones can not only bring back the original intent of the holiday but also protect the environment from harmful consumerism. Focusing on what actually matters like family, connection, and gratitude can help people celebrate Thanksgiving the right way.