Black Friday Shopping is right around the corner. It takes place the day after Thanksgiving on what is typically referred to as Black Friday. Black Friday is arguably the busiest shopping day of the year since stores offer a lot of specials and coupons.

During Black Friday, stores have opened up as early as midnight in the past. However, in recent years, the opening times have crept earlier and earlier. This year, stores are opening up as early as 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. This has caused controversy from workers and families.

Stores say they are opening so early to gain maximum profit. Toys R Us is opening at 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving and not closing until 10 p.m. the next day. Best Buy is opening up at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving. Target, Wal-Mart, and other stores are also following the trend and opening up on Thanksgiving Day, as well.

Caroline, a senior in high school, says, “Even though the stores might gain a little more business, starting the day before kind of takes the fun out of the purpose of Black Friday shopping.”

Another high school student, Ashlyn, says, “I don’t think it is fair. It is defeating the whole purpose of Black Friday.”

Now, since stores open on Thanksgiving, employees will be forced to miss their own Thanksgiving dinner and celebration.

Caroline says, “Opening the stores on Thanksgiving takes away from what the day is really supposed to be about and seems unnecessary to open them so early.”

If you want that new plasma TV at Best Buy, you will need to get in line on Thanksgiving Day for a chance to buy it before supplies run out. Therefore, possibly the only way to get that big sale item is by giving up part of your Thanksgiving.

Last year, when Wal-Mart opened at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, there were 30 activists outside the building protesting the work conditions, according to Drew Joseph, a SFGate journalist. Now, since stores are opening up even earlier, people protesting for not only the working conditions are expected, but also the importance of Thanksgiving.