Are you ready for Black Friday?

If you are not familiar with the holiday Thanksgiving, it is celebrated in America every year on the last Thursday in November.

The Thanksgiving holiday comes from a tradition of remembering the first travelers to that country who befriended the local Indians and were saved from sure starvation.

The holiday is celebrated by family and friends gathering at home and eating a huge spread usually involving turkey.

As people spend time with each other they think about the things that they are truly thankful for in that year. A lot of them are eagerly awaiting the Friday after Thanksgiving which is referred to as Black Friday.

Black Friday

Black Friday is the term for the phenomenon that takes place in the U.S. on the day after Thanksgiving Thursday, when millions of consumers who get the day off from work or school crowd into stores for what is traditionally considered the beginning of the Christmas shopping season.

The origins of the term “Black Friday” are not clear but it certainly means one thing now, ‘shop til you drop’!

Here in Jamaica, since Thanksgiving is not a local holiday then we don’t have Black Friday right?

Well if you thought so then you would be wrong! We do have a pale imitation of Black Friday!

Jamaican Version

The Jamaican version of Black Friday is limited but consumers can still expect to enjoy some benefits at that time.

On Friday November 27, 2015, a number of merchants will be offering consumers extended opening hours and reduced prices.

Media reports have identified that the Operator of Mall and Village Plaza on Constant Spring Road, Kingston, Alf Investments Limited, will extend its opening hours and offer reduced prices of up to 75 per cent.

This is quite a treat for consumers as they intend to extend the sale for three days starting on Thursday November 25, 2015. This will give consumers an opportunity to buy any gifts they want for later in the year.

Word of Warning

Although it’s always exciting to see special shopping days and discounts, remember not to over spend.

Only buy items that are not only on sale but are necessary!

Be cautious too when the prices are very low. Examine the products before you buy so as to save yourself from heartache later.

When shopping in large crowds, it is also best not to have large amounts of cash with you.

Never ask anyone you don’t know to watch your belongings or rest them on the floor and leave them unattended.

So are you ready for Black Friday?

Let me hear from you!

Teri Ann Renee Paisley

Gleaner online writer

Tags: shopping black friday