Thanksgiving originated as a holiday to remember all that we are thankful for. Essentially, it was designed to discourage selfishness and create a community of thanks. Now, we rush to stores at the crack of dawn to get the best deals.

This year, Black Friday will be starting on Thanksgiving night for many companies.

The first store to announce their Thanksgiving hours was Macy’s. They will be open starting at 8:00 PM on Thanksgiving night. Walmart, Sears, and Toys ‘R’ Us quickly followed. Some other popular retail chains that will open their doors on the holiday include Old Navy, Gap, Target, and Nike.

Is this ruining the exact basis from which both Thanksgiving and Christmas were formed upon? We now use our Thanksgiving to be more greedy, in order to find the “best” gifts at the lowest prices, for Christmas, a holiday created to celebrate the birth of our savior.

Not only are stores making revenue on a day of thanks, they are forcing employees to work on this day, as well. Over the years, we have seen many of these employees be seriously injured, or in some cases, trampled to death. Vicious shoppers have also been known to pepper spray their competing shoppers for the best deals.

According to the Northstar Realty Finance Corps (NRF), total spending over the entire Black Friday weekend in 2012 reached $59.1 billion, the average American spending about $423.

What you didn’t know about Black Friday is that some of the products on sale are actually not the true brand, and they are made with cheaper materials. Consumer Reports Magazine included in their findings that Sony and Samsung have altered their televisions for Black Friday in the past.

People also often do not realize that Black Friday indeed does not usually have the best deals, it just receives a lot of buzz. Want to find the best deals? Visit the stores with the procrastinators a few days leading up to Christmas.

So what does this mean for Regis Jesuit students? Many will be forced to take time away from their families on Thanksgiving to work. Black Friday is destructing our limited time we often have with our family members. The holiday season is meant to be a time of togetherness and awareness of our blessings.

It is important to remember what really matters. If we put so much material interest in the holiday season, it defeats the purpose. This season, be an advocate for keeping Christ in Christmas. Help others to remember that it is not the amount or quality of gifts that matters, but the thought that counts.