Thanksgiving is a unique holiday in that it is the convergence of two of its hallmarks: Family gatherings and the launch of the Christmas shopping season.
In some families the two are joined together. In the past after stuffing themselves with the holiday bird, members of the family would chart their shopping strategy, while the rest of the families watched football or took a nap.
However, in more recent years the growth of Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, has come earlier and earlier and grown as one of the biggest shopping days of the year. Three years ago when some stores began opening on Thanksgiving Day, many people were in an uproar to have their family holiday hijacked by retail; but, it has made little difference as stores release their Black Friday sales earlier each year. There may be doorbusters for different times on turkey day for sales in store and online. An early Friday morning breakfast or a midnight dinner on Thursday, for many families has become family tradition unto itself.
The Bowie News asked on its Facebook page what are your family’s Thanksgiving Day traditions. Many said it was football and food, and lots of Christmas decorating. Many grandparents recruit those spry grandkids to help get their house decorated.

Read more about how Thanksgiving traditions and Black Friday have begun to meld together at least for some families in your mid-week Bowie News.