Black Friday

Here at the Times, we're all about cultural sensitivity. One way to be culturally sensitive is to learn about other cultures. One way to learn about other cultures is to discuss their holidays.

One holiday that American Christians observe has always intrigued me. It is the holiday of Black Friday. Let's learn more about this often overlooked holiday.

It takes place about a month before Christmas and begins the month-long celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, who is considered a god in the Christian religion. Black Friday always takes place the day after Thanksgiving.

Black Friday is generally observed by all American Christians, regardless of the level of their religious fervor. The celebration begins in the wee hours of the last Friday morning in November. Peculiarly, people do not meet in churches, which is the usual meeting place on religious holidays for the American Christian. Instead, they meet outside of commercial buildings, such as Wal Mart.

The most interesting part of the ritual occurs around 5 or 6 in the morning. The doors of the commercial building are opened. Then a mad rush of American Christians stampede through the doors so as to trample on some of the members of their community in order to sacrifice them to appease their vengeful god, Jesus Christ. Then, to atone for the sins they've committed against their families throughout the previous year, they use green money or plastic cards to purchase gifts with little or no discernable use. They will then transfer these gifts to their kin on Christmas day in a bid for forgiveness.

It's no Yom Kippur, but it's still a fascinating holiday from a wonderful group of people who follow a very honorable religion.