Thanksgiving is a well-known holiday to many people. Friends and family gather together and give thanks to all that is good for them. Though lately, it is Black Friday that has been getting more attention than Thanksgiving.

Black Friday is one of the biggest shopping days of the year and it is the Friday after Thanksgiving.

Every year many stores open up early in the morning with the promise of discounts on store items. Stores open as early as midnight and customers even camp out for days, just to get a glimpse of the sales.

Many people enjoy the day off to get some holiday shopping done but others don’t enjoy the event as much.

“I think (Black Friday) is overrated. The sales aren’t that much of a difference and there is a shortage of items at stores knowing there will be a lot of people,” early childhood development major Jessica Contreras said.

It has become known that people seem to become more aggressive during this time, as there have been many reported incidents of fighting and people getting trampled at stores.

These are just some of the effects the day has on people.

Computer science major Cristhaine Rocha, who previously worked at Target on Black Friday, said people are desperate to get a good deal.

“People are definitely more on edge during this time. Not all of them, but there is always a good amount that you see when shopping,” she said.

This aggressive behavior seems to become a norm to individuals.

Sociology major Gabriela Diaz said that there are aggressive shoppers wanting to do either Christmas shopping or shop for their own needs.

“People don’t even think about what they are doing. They just grab and think only about the good deal they got in the end. That’s normal now,” Diaz said.

Contreras sees the behavior differently.

“It’s not normal that people get aggressive. I think it’s a competition and people are naturally competitive and that’s where the aggression comes from,”  she said.

When there is a limited number of an item, people tend to overstep their boundaries and act in a manner they normally would not, Contreras said.

Rocha said, “The day, especially in the morning, is fast paced. People want to hurry and grab what they need. Everything is heightened at that moment. People just go crazy and expect things to go their way.”

Diaz said because people are interested in technology, the popularity of Black Friday has risen.

“Recently it became popular because of the technology boom. We are a part of the technology age. It is just a smart marketing move from businesses,” she said.

Rocha said that electronics is one of the more popular sections of the store on Black Friday.

“People want to buy TVs or headphones or phones and cameras. Anything that is 50 or a couple of hundred dollars off, people will buy it,” she said. “It can be good for buying early holiday presents. If you (pay attention) you can get good deals.”

People feel the day takes away from the festivities of Thanksgiving because people queue up a day before and wake up early to get some shopping done.

“It is disappointing that it is after Thanksgiving because it takes time away from family,” Contreras said.

Diaz said people now think about Black Friday first.

“If they don’t think about Thanksgiving, Black Friday is probably what come to mind,” she said. “I definitely like to do some shopping, but I don’t like the waking up early or dealing with the shoving and long lines. I like sales but I don’t have the patience.”

Although the day brings frustration and aggression, people still tend to go out on the day, taking in a glimpse of what they can get their hands on.

Diaz said, “I hope people can take a moment on that Thursday to really give thanks, be thankful of how privileged they have to be able to go shopping and take their mind off the craze that is Black Friday for a bit.”