As Christmas draws near, preparations associated with this globally celebrated holiday begins. The advent calendars are bought to help with the countdown to Christmas, families go out to choose their Christmas trees, decorations are brought down from the attic, and of course the frantic shopping for the perfect Christmas gift for family, relatives and friends begin. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that Black Friday sales are always a hit for everyone.
Originally an American tradition, Black Friday represents the last Thursday of November, following the harvest tradition of thanksgiving during which items in stores are reduced significantly. It is said to represent the beginning of the Christmas shopping season in America and is often likened to the Boxing Day sales here in the UK. Shopping during the Black Friday weekend can be quite the nightmare – you can expect to spend at least half an hour driving around to find a parking spot, people pushing others out of the way to get to their desired items and of course unending queues at the tills.
This American tradition which has been adopted in the UK, was only introduced a few years ago and has consistently been on the rise since its introduction. Shoppers are expected to spend over £2.3 billion on products ranging from electronics, clothes and home ware to mention but a few. The Black Friday weekend is without a doubt, not only a busy time for individuals to get their hands on desired items at a discounted price, it is also one of the busiest for many shops and retailers. But regardless of the ups and downs of Black Friday shopping, I still think everyone is secretly grateful for the opportunity to buy a few Christmas gifts at a slightly discounted price.
