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Line 1: − + + + + + + + − The media has exaggerated the nature of Black Friday to denigrate Christmas, saying people have become obsessed with shopping and [[commercialism]]. To be sure, [[fad]]s for certain [[toy]]s have led to rushes on stores, sometimes with unfortunate consequences.<ref>[http://www.newsday.com/news/local/ny-limart1129,0,7044659,print.story Walmart worker dies in Black Friday stampede"]</ref> Yet Black Friday is a [[statistical anomaly]] and it is statistically unsound to generalize about the Christmas season based on the behavior on this one day. Black Friday is one of the few holidays many people have before Christmas, so responsible people will make the most of this day to get their shopping finished a month early. The number of shoppers on Black Friday is far more than any other day of the year, so those numbers are "representative" is misleading. Furthermore, the media often ignore that shopping helps fuel the economy and that the purpose of this activity is Christmas, a Christian holiday which the majority of Americans celebrate. In comparison, the media makes no furor over the number of roses sold on [[Valentine's Day]] or turkeys sold on [[Thanksgiving]], saying these are unhealthy obsessions. The exaggerations of Black Friday are likely another aspect of the [[War on Christmas]].
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'''Black Friday''' is the popular name given to the day after [[Thanksgiving]], which is always a [[Friday]] and is a [[holiday]]. Black Friday got its name because it has historically been the day when stores break into profitability for the full year, so that they are "in the black" rather than "in the red". In recent years, the day has become the most popular day of the year to [[shopping|shop]] and [[retailer]]s have reported record [[profit]]s. Many people take advantage of this holiday as an opportunity to do all their [[Christmas]] shopping.
'''Black Friday''' is the name popularly given to the day after [[Thanksgiving]], which is always a [[Friday]] and is a [[holiday]]. The name "Black Friday" comes from the fact that historically it has been the day when stores break into profitability for the full year, so that they are "in the black" rather than "in the red." In recent years, the day has become the most popular day of the year to go shopping and [[retailer]]s have reported record [[profit]]s. Many people take advantage of this holiday as an opportunity to do all their [[Christmas]] shopping early. Black Friday is commonly criticized as being an inordinate display of [[consumerism]], though it is often celebrated in the media with previews and discussions on upcoming sales.
==Black Friday, 2008==
In 2008, Black Friday reached a fever pitch when a Wal-Mart employee was trampled to death and a pregnant woman was injured by a mob of shoppers breaking through the doors shortly before opening time. According to witnesses, the mob actually broke the doors off their hinges, and continued to trample in, even stepping on officers giving CPR to the trampled man. One witness said, "When they were saying they had to leave, that an employee got killed, people were yelling, 'I've been on line since Friday morning!'...They kept shopping."<ref>http://articles.nydailynews.com/2008-11-28/local/17910475_1_wal-mart-worker-long-island-wal-mart-jdimytai-damour/2</ref> A Wal-Mart employee later said, "I look at these people's faces and I keep thinking one of them could have stepped on him. How could you take a man's life to save $20 on a TV?"<ref>http://articles.nydailynews.com/2008-11-28/local/17910475_1_wal-mart-worker-long-island-wal-mart-jdimytai-damour/2</ref>
On the same day, two men at a Toys R Us were killed in a shooting. Though initial reports suggested the shooting erupted over a shopping altercation, this was apparently not the case.<ref>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27957714</ref> The exact cause of the shooting is not clearly known.
==References==
==References==