Black Friday used to be one of the most anticipated and exciting events of the year. People would stay up all night after Thanksgiving to camp outside of stores in hopes of securing crazy deals. It was not just about the shopping, it was about the rush, the excitement and honestly just the chaos. But now this time of year just doesn’t hold that same energy; the thrill of Black Friday has gone to die and been taken over by online shopping. 

In past years Black Friday was seen as a tradition. Friends and families would map out which stores they wanted to hit first and create a game plan for finding the best deals. News Stations were flooded with footage of people sprinting into stores at 5 a.m. and tearing through products. Even though it was hectic, it was always exciting; you could feel the buzz in the air, and there was this odd sense of togetherness. 

Although there were often fights to get certain merchandise, tug-of-war over products or yelling at strangers, it was a time when people really showed up. There was this shared excitement that brought people together, even if they were competing over the same deal. Everyone was running on coffee, adrenaline and the high of finding that one item that they’d been eyeing for weeks. You would swap stories with people in line, laugh about the madness and somehow, it all felt like part of the holiday season. 

Now, most of that excitement is gone. With online shopping, people do not feel the need to leave their houses anymore. You can sit in your pajamas, scroll on your phone and get the same deals from the warmth and comfort of your home. Sure, it is convenient, but it also takes away the rush and the sense of adventure. There is no rushing through aisles and comparing your cart to the person next to you, just endless scrolling and clicking “add to cart.” 

One of the biggest changes that has caused this switch is how early the sales start. It used to be one day— Black Friday— the Friday after Thanksgiving. But now, sales begin as early as October, and by the time the day actually comes, most of the “doorbuster” sales have already happened. It is like the hype burned out before the day even arrived. What used to be one big, crazy day has turned into a long, drawn-out sales season that honestly feels kind of boring. 

For many people, the shift to online shopping and early sales took away from the spirit of what made Black Friday special. It used to be something people looked forward to, even if it meant waking up at 3 a.m. or freezing in line outside of a store. Now, it is just another sale that comes and goes, mixed in with all the other “limited-time offers” we see year-round. We no longer see the crazy discounted items, just a repeat of the same sales that happen over and over again. 

Black Friday is not gone, but it is definitely not the same. The excitement, the energy and the sense of tradition have all kind of faded. Maybe it is easier now, but part of me misses the chaos, the crowds, the early mornings and that feeling of people showing up and coming together for the same reason. 

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Hi! I’m Hannah Planey, A Magazine’s editor-in-chief. My staff and I are committed to bringing you the most important and entertaining news from the realms of fashion, beauty and culture. We are full-time students and hard-working journalists. While we get support from the student media fee and earned revenue such as advertising, both of those continue to decline. Your generous gift of any amount will help enhance our student experience as we grow into working professionals. Please go here to donate to A Magazine.