Every Tom, Dick & Harry (some of you probably do not understand why I use those 3 names---another idiom from my youth) now has their version of Black Friday. Black Friday in the retail world began decades ago and was always celebrated? the Friday after Thanksgiving. It was the official opening of the Christmas spending season. I have friends---NOT ME---who are guilty of hitting the stores after midnight Thanksgiving day. If they start giving away gold bars, I MIGHT participate--but probably not. The bargains were the gimmicks to get you through the door. In the world of marketing they call those "Loss Leaders". The retail industry is willing to sell at cost--perhaps even a small loss to get you into their establishment. As with many things---the pandemic and shut down hit retail industry in the nose. We learned to buy any and everything on line. I am GUILTY! I am NOT a shopper and if I never crossed the threshold of another retail establishment it would be wonderful. I do not even go into the grocery store unless I have a last minute emergency and for one or two items only. I am not a fan of crowds, pushing and shoving, grabbing and throwing, standing in long lines, or being overwhelmed by too many choices. It is a good thing I love my house---for I stay here a great deal. My outings involve walks--lots of them and being the Grands' Uber. Shopping on line is my way to go.
Fast forward to today and Black Friday is hugely "celebrated" on line. It is no longer limited to the Friday after Thanksgiving. I have been seeing ads for months about the "Latest" Black Friday. Do you associate Black Friday with throwing your hard earned cash at the retailers? It might surprise you to know---the original Black Friday was not a concept born out of retail sales. The first Black Friday was September 24, 1869---a date of financial panic in the US sparked by gold speculators. The true origin of the post- Thanksgiving Black Friday lies in the sense of black meaning "marked by disaster or misfortune." "In the 1950's, factory managers first started referring to the Friday after Thanksgiving as Black Friday because so many of their workers decided to falsely call in sick, thus extending their holiday weekend. There is another story originating about 10 years later about Philadelphia traffic cops using the phrase to describe the day after Thanksgiving when they worked 12 hour shifts in terrible traffic."
As I reflected on Black Friday and what it has come to mean, as a Believer it has an entirely different meaning. Friday--the day before the Jewish Sabbath, is the day when Jesus paid the price for all of our sins. He suffered and died--so we could spend eternity with Him. The Blackest of Fridays---and the price He paid --and all for us was unthinkable. He suffered--died---was betrayed---was buried---and perhaps most unthinkable was separated from The Father. There will never be a Black Friday to compare to that one. So thankful---Sunday was coming.
No, I don't fall for the after Thanksgiving gimmicks and "sales." I don't like crowds either, so I will be at home today. But yes, the only Black Friday that I care about is the one where our dear Lord suffered and died for us. It's the only one that matters. Blessings, Lulu!
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