What is Thanksgiving?

Information, origins, and history about the traditional holiday of Thanksgiving

Black Thursday replaces Black Friday

If the bigwigs have their way, Black Thursday replaces Black Friday this year!!    Stores and corporations are trying to do away with Black Friday.  Why? Because they want Black Thursday.  What is the proof?  This year more stores than ever will be opening on Thursday, November 25 – aka Thanksgiving

black thursday

black thursday

Check out the list of Black Thursday and Black Friday store hours.

The store openings are changing for a multitude of reasons, among them:

#1.  MONEY / GREED – by creating Black Thursday to replace Black Friday they do not lose one single shopping day.  If they can be open when other stores are closed, they think they will make more money!  Why wait until Friday to “go into the black” when they can do it on Thursday?

#2.  DO AWAY WITH TRADITION – Many of the country’s elite think that no day should be any more special than any other day, because that would give extra preference to one group, religion, belief, or idea.  They believe this is not politically correct.

#3.  COMPETITION / EGO – Each store / coroporation wants to compete against their neighbor – to do this they need to offer something the other doesn’t have…what can they offer here?  Thursday store hours.

We enjoy Cyber Monday.  We love Black Friday.  Will Black Thursday stick?  Many, many people have voiced against the change.  Facebook groups are springing up, online petitions are garnering thousands of votes against it, bloggers are voicing their disgust, and people are speaking up.  If you listen to the corporations however, they make it sound as if those are the minority of people.  Don’t let those claims fool you.  People do not want Black Thursday.  People want Thanksgiving maintained as a day of thanks and rest without having to work, shop, and stress.  Don’t give up because you feel like you’re alone!! Stop Black Thursday!!

 

What to bring shopping on Black Friday

If you’re going out shopping on Black Friday, you’ll want to remember that this is not a normal shopping day and that there are several things you want to bring with you when you go shopping!!  Start your Black Friday Checklist now and get everything you’ll need together in one place.  When the day actually comes and you’re headed out the door at midnight or 3am, you’ll be thankful you thought ahead.  And you’ll be even more thankful when you’re standing in line and cannot leave to go back home to pick up something you forgot!

black friday list

CREATE A BLACK FRIDAY CHECKLIST NOW!

Here are the most important things to bring with you shopping on Black Friday:

1.  Cash and Credit cards.  Sounds obvious?  Trust me, the stress of leaving at midnight will cause you to forget your wallet.  Put it on your checklist!!

2.  Cell Phone.  Bring it, and be sure it’s charged!!

3.  Ads.  Think the store will have the ad that you can puruse when you get there?? Sure they will, but that’s time you’ll lose trying to find it, and then you also risk that they will be out of them! Don’t go without your Black Friday Ad!

4.  Gas.  Fill up the night before.  You don’t want to waste any time filling up in the middle of the night between stores!

5.  Snacks.  You are going to be up at very early hours and out in stores walking around looking for deals.  You’ll be tired and hungry, and on top of that there’s no time to stop at a restaurant – the best deals go fast! Bring a snack to eat on the go!!

6.  Water.  Yes, stay hydrated, it will improve your mood tremendously.

7.  A shopping pal.  It’s more fun to shop with someone.  Also, if you need to take a bathroom break they can hold your items or hold your place in line!

8.  Empty Trunk.  There’s nothing worse than going to your first store, buying a bunch of Thanksgiving deals, and then realizing you have no room for them in your car.  Make space in your trunk beforehand!

9. Map or GPS.  You think you know where you’re going, but if roads are closed or under construction, or if there’s tons of traffic you might be forced to try a new route – and the last thing you want is to get lost in the wee hours of the night on Black Friday!

10.  Comfortable Shoes.  There’s no need to get all dressed up.  You’re going to be beating the streets and going alot of walking – treat your feet with comfortable shoes!!

 

Black Friday Shopping Tips

While some people think that shopping on Black Friday is fun, it is definitely not the easiest shopping day of the year – crowds of people, waking up at very early hours of the morning, and dealing with store clerks that are rushed and short of patience is bound to have a toll on your general mood and outlook on the day.

Here are some Black Friday Shopping Tips to get you through the day after Thanksgiving!
black friday checklist
1. Commitment.  Remember, lines are going to be long, and tons of people are going to be out with you each of them competing against you for those Hot Bargain Day-After-Thanksgiving sales.  If you see your item is not on the shelf, or if you get to the store and see a long line ahead of you, don’t give up!! You must stay committed to the cause!!  If you stay committed you’re likely to find that last product stuck in the back of the shelf, or realize that you weren’t too far back in the line after all.  DONT GIVE UP!!

2.  Patience.  Remember, there are going to be HOARDS of people out shopping with you.  When people are after bargains they are going to be rude, curt, and sometimes uncivilizeed.  Don’t let those attitudes get to you! Have patience!! You cannot stoop to someone else’s level just because they can’t handle the stress of Black Friday Shopping!

3.  Speed.  Remember all those people standing in line? Many of them will be literally running to the same product as you.  You need to be familiar with the store you’re going to and where your product will be stocked.  Go straight to the location, do not get sidetracked!

4.  Courage.  Remember, Black Friday Shopping is not for the weak of heart! Crowds, stress, and traffic can all get to you! Bring your courage with you and you WILL survive the day with a GREAT Thanksgiving deal!!

Occupy Black Friday

An Occupy movement has started to take down Black Friday!

Over the years, black friday has become intricately associated with Thanksgiving. Many families use it as another chance to get together and do things as a group – mothers and daughters, and whole families get up early on Friday morning and use the day as a chance to socialize, get together, and go shopping for deals…sure, it’s something that’s not appealing to all, but it has become tradition for some. But some protesters are trying to put a stop to the black friday “consumerism” and “greed”.

The Occupy Black Friday protesters  (taking their name from the ones that are trying to take down Wall Street – aka Occupy Wall Street) are starting a movement dubbed “Occupy Black Friday” – their goal according to one Occupy Black Friday Facebook page is to “hit the corporations that corrupt and control American politics where it hurts, their profits”.

One of the points that they make is that the stores that traditionally have opened on Black Friday are now opening way too early (Thanksgiving) and are forcing out the tradition of having Thanksgiving as a day of non-work where people can be with their families.  Employees are being forced away from their families on November 25, all in a war for the almighty dollar by coroporations.  Occupy Black Friday protesters claim to stand behind the workers who are being exploited into working on the traditional Thanksgiving holiday.

Will this protest help stores consider whether or not they are going too far and opening too early?  Will this movement help stores reconsider the importance and meaning that Thanksgiving has to some people?  And will this protest catch on?  Occupy Black Friday protesters hope so.

 

Black Friday Store Hours 2011

There has been alot of controversy this year over what hours stores will be open on Black Friday.  Many stores are planning on opening earlier this year than last year – and many people are outraged saying that the tradition of letting people stay at home with their families on Thanksgiving is being ruined due to corporate greed.  Others however are in favor of stores being open so that they do not have to watch football, but rather can go out shopping just after they eat their Thanksgiving meal.  Regardless of the controversy however, many stores have indeed started to stay open on Thanksgiving.  Here’s a rundown of Black Friday store hours.

Please double check with stores to confirm hours have not changed.

Store Hours on Black Friday Nov 25 2011

  • Best Buy – Opens at midnight (12am) on Black Friday
  • Macy’s – Opens at Midnight (12am) on Black Friday
  • Kohl’s – Opens at Midnight (12am) on Black Friday
  • Target -  Opens at Midnight (12am) on Black Friday
  • Old Navy – Opens at Midnight (12am) on Black Friday
  • Game Stop – Opens at Midnight (12am) on Black Friday
  • Meijer – Opens at 4am
  • Navy Exchange – Opens at 4am
  • JC Penney – Opens at 4am on Black Friday
  • Burlington Coat Factory – Opens at 5am on Black Friday
  • Sports Authority – Opens at 5am on Black Friday
  • Dick’s Sporting Goods – Open 5am  on Black Friday
  • Sam’s Club – Opens at 5am on Black Friday (members only event)
  • Home Depot – Opens at 5am
  • Lowe’s – Opens at 5am
  • Fred’s – Opens at 5am
  • Cabelas – Opens at 5am on Black Friday
  • Modell’s Sporting Goods – Opens at 5am
  • Sears – opens at 5am on Black Friday
  • Radioshack – Opens at 5:30am on Black Friday
  • Menards – Opens at 6am on Black Friday
  • Stein Mart – Opens at 6am
  • Jo-Ann Fabrics – Opens at 6am on Black Friday
  • Pep Boys – Opens at 6am on Black Friday
  • OfficeMax – Opens at 6am on Black Friday
  • Big Lots – Opens at 6am
  • Staples – Opens at 6am
  • BJ’s Wholesale – Opens at 7am
  • Half Price Books – Opens at 7am
  • Petsmart – Opens at 7am
  • Dollar General – Opens at 7am
  • RoomStore – Opens at 8am
  • La-Z-Boy – Opens at 9am on Black Friday

 

Some stores open even earlier than Black Friday.  Here are the stores that you can shop at on Thanksgiving Day itself.

Stores Open on Thanksgiving Thursday 2011

  • CVS – Open 24 Hours on Thanksgiving Day
  • K-Mart – Open 6 – 9am Thanksgiving Day
  • Wal Mart – Open 24 hours Thanksgiving Day – Sales start at 10pm on Thanksgiving
  • Walgreens – Open 24 Hours on Thanksgiving Day
  • Bass Pro Shops – Open 8am – 6pm on Thanksgiving Day
  • Gap – Open until 8pm Thanksgiving Day
  • Toys R Us – Opens at 9pm Thanksgiving Day to 11pm Black Friday
  • Michael’s – Open 4pm Thanksgiving Day
  • Rite Aid – Open 24 Hours on Thanksgiving Day

Traditional Thanksgiving Meal

Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November each year in the United States.  Each Thanksgiving, families sit down at the dinner table digging into all kinds of yummy foods.  Here is a list of some of the traditional Thanksgiving meal that you are likely to see or eat at a Thanksgiving dinner! Many of these foods are traditional because they are what was eaten at the very first Thanksgiving in 1863.

Traditional Meats
1.  Turkey
2. Duck
3. Goose
4. Venison

Traditional Fishes
1. Eel
2. Cod
3. Bass

Traditional Shellfish
1. Clam
2. Mussels
3. Lobster

Traditional Fruits, Nuts, & Berries
1. Cranberries
2. Chestnuts
3. Apples
4. Raisins

Traditional Vegetables
1. Pumpkin
2. Onion
3. Winter squash
4. Peas
5. Corn
6. Green Beans
7. Yams
8. Potatoes
9. Sweet Potatoes
10. Carrots
11. Celery

Traditional Sidedishes
1. Cornbread
2. Rolls
3. Stuffing
4. Gravy

Traditional Desserts
1. Pumpkin Pie
2. Apple Pie
3. Mincemeat Pie
4. Sweet Potato Pie
5. Pecan Pie
6. Chocolate Cream Pie

Traditional Thanksgiving Beverages
1. Apple Cider
2. Wine

Thanksgiving in Chicago 2011

If you’ll be spending Thanksgiving in Chicago 2011, there are a number of things that you can do to ensure that you enjoy the holiday!  So grab your friends and family and plan what events and activities you’re going to do while spending the holiday in the windy city!

1.  Watch the holiday season get started by attending the Chicago Thanksgiving Day Parade! Sponsored by McDonalds, the parade is aired all across the United States on TV, and includes tons of floats, merriment, and of course Santa Clause! If you’re in Chicago for Thanksgiving, this is your chance to be a part of it.

  • Date: Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 2011 Time: 8:00am – 11:00am Central Standard Time
  • Location: Down State Street (Congress to Randolph)

2.  Visit Christkindlmarket Chicago – Christkindlmarket is a German American Holiday Market.

  • Location:  Daley Plaza, Chicago Illinois
  • Dates: Daily, November 23, 2011 – December 24, 2011.
  • Times: Sunday – Thursday: 11:00 am – 8:00 pm
    • Friday & Saturday: 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
    • Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 2011: 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
    • Christmas Eve, December 24, 2011: 11:00 am – 4:00 pm

3.  Go ice skating at the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink! Ice skating is always a fun activity, so why not start out Thanksgiving in the windy city with a skate around this beautiful outdoor ice rink?

  • Dates open: Friday, November 18, 2011 to Sunday, March 11, 2012.
  • Times: Mon – Thurs: 12 p.m. — 8 p.m. Fr: 12 p.m. — 10 p.m.
    • Sat: (through Dec.17): 10 a.m. — 10 p.m.
    •  Sat: (beginning Jan. 7): 10 a.m. — 9 p.m.
    • Sun: 10 a.m. — 9 p.m.
  • Holiday times: Thursday, November 24 (Thanksgiving): 10 a.m. — 4 p.m.
    • Saturday, December 24: 10 a.m. — 6 p.m.
    • Sunday, December 25: 10 a.m. — 4 p.m.
    • Saturday, December 31: 10 a.m. — 8 p.m.
    • Sunday, January 1: 12 p.m. — 9 p.m.

4. Go Christmas Caroling in Chicago at Cloud Gate! This is the best kind of Thanksgiving activity because it cost nothing! It is absolutely free. Just show up at Cloud Gate and get into the holiday spirit by doing some Christmas caroling!

  • Location: Cloud Gate, Millenium Park – Michigan Avenue between Randolph and Monroe streets.
  • Date: Friday Nov. 25 – Dec. 16, 2011
  • Cost: Free!!

Thanksgiving in Dallas 2011

If you are in Dallas, TX for Thanksgiving in 2011 and you don’t know what to do besides eat, you’re in luck! Here are the top things for you to do while in Dallas on Thanksgiving!

1. Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Football game: The very top thing for you to do on Thanksgiving in Dallas is go to a Dallas Cowboys game. Every year the Cowboys play a home football game on Thanksgiving Day, and the 2011 Thanksgiving holiday is no different! This is a Texan tradition and any Cowboys fan will tell you if you can at all get a game ticket for Thanksgiving day, you have to go!! Its THE Texan way to spend Thanksgiving in Dallas!

Here are the Cowboys Game Details for 2011:
Date: Thursday, November 24, 2011
Game: Cowboys vs. Miami Dolphins
Time: 3:15pm
Ticket Price: Prices vary, visit Ticketmaster for more info
Location: Cowboys Stadium, Arlington Texas

2. Turkey Trot! – On Thanksgiving Day Dallas YMCA has a Turkey Trot which is a 5K or 8K run and is considered the largest event of its kind that happens on Thanksgiving Day! Run before you gobble!!!


Turkey Trot 2011 details:
Date: November 24, 2011
Race Day Registration: 7 – 8:50am
Race begins: 9am
Location: Downtown Dallas, City Hall Plaza
Fee: $5 for “Timed” persons

3. Fort Worth Parade of Lights – The Friday night after Thanksgiving (this year that is Friday, November 25, 2011) the city of Fort Worth has the Fort Worth Parade of Lights! This is a great way to finish out your Thanksgiving holiday spirit! The parade kicks off the holiday season with floats and of course Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Yes, as in Santa Claus!

Fort Worth Parade of Lights 2011 Details:
Date: November 25, 2011
Time: 6pm approximately
Location: Radioshack HQ on Belknap Street, Fort Worth, TX
Cost: Free to view!

4. Nutcracker – Finally, after you’ve eaten, been to the parades, done your Turkey Trot, and gotten as exhausted as you can, it’s stime to sit back and enjoy the Nutcracker by the Texas Ballet Theater at the Winspear Opera House.


Nutcracker Performance Details
Date: November 25m 2011 – December 4, 2011
Location: Winspear Opera House
Note: (It will run later in the month again at the Bass Performance Hall – December 9 through Decmeber 24 2011)
Cost: Prices Vary (Approx $18 – $70 depending on seat)

Thanksgiving in New York 2011

New York City is always a special place to spend the holidays – from Thanksgiving to Christmas to New Year’s you’ll find that New Yorkers are all about celebrating in style. So if you do decide to spend Thanksgiving in New York this year, here are the top things you should do…

Things to do in New York for Thanksgiving:

Pre-Thanksgiving activity…
1. Watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloons get inflated!
This is a great thing to do if you’re in NYC early – the balloons will be blown up close to the American Museum of Natural History  from 3 – 10pm on Wednesday, November 23.

2.  Party at a Thanksgiving Eve Party!
Yes, there is actually such a thing – who would have thought? These events take place on Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at many nightclubs and bars. Check online for who’s offering what kind of specials (drink specials, happy hours, etc.) to plan your route!

On the big day itself…
3. Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
The main event in New York City (and actually all around the country) on Thanksgiving is watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Everyone in the nation will be tuning in their TVs to watch it, so if you find yourself in the city, this is a must-do!!

2011 Thanksgiving Day Parade Route:
Begins on 77th Street and Central Park West
Ends on 7th Avenue and 34th Street

Best time to get there:
There will be tons of people. I mean tons! So you’ll want to get there early – most folks will start lining the route around 6:30 in the morning.

Best place to watch:
Get a hotel somewhere along the route and watch from your hotel room! Otherwise feel free to join the merriment in person at one of the public viewing areas which include:

  • Central Park West
  • Columbus Cirle
  • 34th St
  • 6th Ave
  • 42nd St
  • 7th Ave.

 

Post-Thanksgiving Day activities
4. Hit the Black Friday Sales in the City 
Like every other city in the country, NYC will have plenty of Black Friday Sales! Black Friday is of course the day after Thanksgiving (This year it will be Friday, November 25) when retailers profits go “in the black”. It represents the day when stores mark down their merchandise with huge sales – it is considered the busiest shopping day of the year. If you’re in the city for the parade, you’ll want to grab a newspaper to see who’s having the biggest sales – many sales happen during specific hours, so be prepared to get up early and shop late!
5. Stay for the Rockefeller Tree Lighting
If you’re able to stay in the city just a week or so after thanksgiving, you’ll want to check out the Rockefeller Tree Lighting which will take place on Wednesay, November 30, 2011. It will be the 79th Annual Christmas Tree lighting and will take place from 7 – 9pm at Rockefeller Center.

Thanksgiving Day Song Adam Sandler Lyrics

Song created specifically for thanksgiving! Lyrics by Adam Sandler

Love to eat turkey
Love to eat turkey
Love to eat turkey
‘Cause it’s good
Love to eat turkey
Like a good boy should
‘Cause it’s turkey to eat
So good
Turkey for me
Turkey for you
Let’s eat the turkey
in my big brown shoe
Love to eat the turkey
At the table
I once saw a movie
With Betty Grable
Eat that turkey
All night long
Fifty million Elvis fans
Can’t be wrong
Turkey turkey doo and
Turkey turkeydap
I eat that turkey Then I take a nap
Thanksgiving is a special night
Jimmy Walker used to say Dynomite
That’s right
Turkey with gravy and cranberry
Can’t believe the Mets traded Darryl Strawberry

Turkey for you and
Turkey for me
Can’t believe Tyson
Gave that girl V.D.
White meat, dark meat
You just can’t lose
I fell off my moped
And I got a bruise
Turkey in the oven
And the buns in the toaster
I’ll never take down
My Cheryl Tiegs poster
Wrap the turkey up
In aluminum foil
My brother like to masturbate
With baby oil
Turkey and sweet potato pie
Sammy Davis Jr.
Only had one eye
Turkey for the girls and
Turkey for the boys
My favorite kind of pant
Are corduriys
Gobble gobble goo and
Gobble gobble gickel
I wish turkey
Only cost a nickel
Oh I love turkey on Thanksgiving

Here’s a video of the Turkey Song!