My family has always celebrated Thanksgiving during which we take a step back from our every day lives to give Thanks. We spend the day together, creating a meal together and remembering and giving thanks for all of the things that we are grateful for. Spending the day with friends and family.
There are several different stories to the start of Thanksgiving, from the Puritans celebrating religious matters to settlers near Plymouth Rock having a feast to celebrate the harvest. In the United State Thanksgiving was proclaimed to be a National Holiday by George Washington.
As President of the United States, George Washington proclaimed the first nation-wide thanksgiving celebration in America marking November 26, 1789, "as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favours of Almighty God".(Hodgson, Godfrey (2006) A Great and Godly Adventure: The Pilgrims and the Myth of the first Thanksgiving.)
In Canada there are just as many stories as to the origin as there are in the US. From explorers celebrating a successful journey from England to celebrating a successful harvest.
In recent years, there has been a lot of discussion about consumerism and the disasters that have come with Black Friday (shoppers being trampled or shot). And let's not forget the last few years how Black Friday has become Black Thursday.
There have been calls to boycott stores that open early for sales by interrupting the holiday and there are just as many responding with arguments that people can make their own choices. This year I came across a different kind of call. One that turns the negative into a positive. Instead of asking for a boycott, one blogger is challenging readers to have Craft Friday.
Craft Friday should be spent with friends and family (or by yourself) crafting whatever you'd like. You can use the time to make handmade gifts for others or things for yourself. There are pinterest boards with crafting ideas if you need some inspiration and discussion boards popping up to talk about Craft Friday.
To see where the idea started or to get the links to pinterest and other related sites go see Pomo Golightly.
Pomo will follow up with a Craft Friday Declaration Post Party where you can share your inspiration, why you chose to participate and what you made (unless that's top secret).
I remember, not too long ago, when Thanksgiving meant the majority of businesses were closed. Few restaurants were open (most closed early-fast food type places), stores closed, and grocery stores closed early. That meant most people were able to spend the day with family or friends. It makes me sad to see how many businesses have stopped closing at all. I'd like to see a return to a time when spending time with family and friends was more important than keeping a business open. So I am in. I will not shop on Thanksgiving day. I will not be shopping on Black Friday. On Friday November 28th I will craft.
What will you be doing?
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