November 29th is Buy Nothing Day #BuyNothingDay which is a good thing for my family because even though its also #BlackFriday there is no, money to shop with this year. Which is sad because Charlie’s Birthday is in 18 days and we haven’t gotten him anything this year. All I can say is it’s all in #Gods and no matter what happens there is no, need to stress over it. Is there?
National Buy Nothing Day originated in Canada in the early ’90s, and National Buy Nothing Day occurs on the day after Thanksgiving each year in the U.S, which falls on November 29th this year. In an effort to combat the unethical and sometimes even dangerous mob shopping behaviors of Black Friday, artist Ted Dave established this anti-consumerism holiday in 1992.
The idea is to counteract the madness of holiday shopping by encouraging a mindful and environmentally friendly attitude toward post-feast purchasing. We’ve been looking for an excuse not to hit the Mall so early on Thanksgiving weekend, and here it is!
National Buy Nothing Day is sort of an anti-holiday in that it found its legs in response to a preexisting celebration: Black Friday. Black Friday earned its name from retailers who, after spending the year ‘in the red,’ i.e. operating at a loss or breaking even, would skyrocket sales into the ‘black,’ or a state of positive income after Thanksgiving. This shopping rush traditionally known as Black Friday occurs on the day after Thanksgiving as many stores advertise unmissable sales to draw early Christmas-Gift shoppers to the market.
As Black Friday became embedded in American culture, Canadian artist Ted Dave found the drastic shift from a day meant for gratitude to a day meant for chaos and greed to be quite off-putting. As a result, he established National Buy Nothing Day in 1992 to counteract the madness of the nation’s materialistic behavior.
Today, Americans practice National Buy Nothing Day in an effort to mediate the exorbitant amounts of waste and auxiliary spending that can often occur in the weeks surrounding Thanksgiving and Christmas. The idea is that, after spending money on food, decor, travel, and lodging for Thanksgiving, the Nation should go on a spending detox by enjoying the day at home or in Nature.
This fourth Friday of November, you may spot Buy Nothing protestors walking aimlessly through your local Mall with a blank facial expression, take the opportunity to put some money into your retirement savings, or simply sitting on retailers’ floors and dressing rooms.
This happens as a result of the yearly group activity called ‘zombie walk,’ during which participators engage in peculiar behavior as a means of attracting attention and raising awareness about the idea behind the day: anti-consumerism.
Whether you participate this year by relaxing at home with your television or engaging in performance Art at the Mall, we hope you’ll take the time to consider the merits of this national anti-shopping day and buy nothing and encourage your friends and family to do the same.
How to Celebrate National Buy Nothing Day
- Everyone is full from Thanksgiving and the house is teeming with leftovers. Gather all your relatives and friends into the living room for a Christmas movie marathon to ring in the cheery Christmas Season. This way, you’ll all get to sleep in, stay in your pajamas, and spend more time together! Just be sure not to purchase or rent the movies you’re watching because the Hallmark channel will do just fine for free!
- While the rest of the world goes on a shopping spree, think about the many ways you could shift operations in your own home to minimize waste. Categorize all the trash from yesterday’s feast into recyclables and nonrecyclables and take them to your nearest receptacle. Consider rinsing and reusing some of the containers in your home for later cooking endeavors, or take the time to research composting.
- Instead of purchasing something for your own use, sift through your belongings to find something you could donate. In a Season of generosity, so many go without. Consider cleaning out your closet or your children’s toy chest and donating anything that hasn’t been used recently to your local Salvation Army or Goodwill. I bet you someone else could make good use of those items.
Facts About Black Friday
- The first use of the term ‘Black Friday’ occurred on September 24, 1869, when the gold market collapsed as a result of two men scamming Wall Street investors.
- This time-honored buying frenzy created by Black Friday just so happens to be the busiest day for plumbers due to the overwhelmed bathroom facilities in stores and malls.
- In 2011, Walmart broke Black Friday tradition by opening their doors on Thanksgiving night since then, shoppers start their free-for-alls before Sunrise on the fourth Friday.
- Did you know more people have been killed in door-busting Black Friday stampedes than by Shark attacks in the U.S.?
- Carbon emissions increase drastically during the holiday season due to shoppers’ increased travel and demand.
Why People Love National Buy Nothing Day
Sometimes the mere fact that an item is on sale can feel like an obligation to purchase. That’s the whole idea behind Black Friday, right? To entice us into spending money and sometimes its money we don’t have or shouldn’t be spending which is we love National Buy Nothing Day because it frees us from the obligation to chase bargains, if only just for a day.
By giving us an excuse to stay at home and enjoy a post-Turkey snooze, this priceless holiday saves us lots of money. Not only will we refrain from purchasing unneeded items simply because they’re on sale, but we’ll also save on gas and eating out creating a win-win all around!
Those of us who are fortunate enough to have auxiliary funds can sometimes fall into the trap of keeping up with the Joneses by making purchases without much forethought. On National Buy Nothing Day each year, we have the opportunity to practice the pause and condense our holiday shopping lists to only the items that will make a significant impact.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
