Spain is not the only country to breed idiotic traditions, though the Running of the Bulls during the Fiesta of San Fermin is a strong contender for the International Moronic Nonsense Award. Our nation has its own stupid version. Albeit, far less dangerous and inhumane, but stupid nonetheless. It's the Fiesta that is Black Friday. Now I have been known to navigate CambridgeSide Galleria with the best of them, but never on the darkest of days...
For those of you still putting around the house in a post-turkey day stupor here's what you missed:
This is the most promotional Black Friday we have seen," said Scott Krugman, a spokesman for the Washington-based National Retail Federation.
The bargains were so good at Wal-Mart Stores Inc., which offered better deals than last year, that things got out of hand. In Cascade Township, east of Grand Rapids, Mich., a woman fell as dozens of people rushed into a store for the 5 a.m. opening. Several stepped on her, and a few became entangled as a man pushed them to the ground to keep them away.
When the rush ended, the woman and a 13-year-old girl suffered minor injuries.
In nearby Grandville, Mich., two shoppers were hurt when they slipped on a wet floor as they entered a Wal-Mart, fire Lt. Lynnae White said. One of the injured was after a bargain notebook computer, he said. Neither was hurt seriously.
The same computer discount was the catalyst for trouble at a Wal-Mart in Orlando, Fla., where a man allegedly cut in line to buy one. He was wrestled to the ground, according to a video shown by an ABC affiliate, WFTV-TV.
Discounted notebooks, particularly the $378 HP Pavilion notebooks, were not the only attractions at Wal-Mart, which also sold out of its $997 52-inch plasma TV sets and 15-inch LCD TVs, priced at $178, in many stores, according to Gail Lavielle, a Wal-Mart spokeswoman. But apparel and toys also did well, she said.
One consumer summed it up best with this line:
"It's a little rough but heh," said Lorenzo DeMassino, 31, who bought Game Boy items at the store.
For all that I hate the commercialism and materialistic frenzy that has manifested itself into the Holiday spirit of giving, Black Friday Madness isn't as dumb as Spain's famous tradition. For those of you who have never been to that part of Europe in July here's what you're missing:
This is the moment of truth in the Bull-Running : the bulls run like the very devil. It´s impossible to race them or even keep up with them for very long (interesting information for anyone with athletic pretensions) : The way to do it is, to start off slowly when the bulls are still a good distance behind, and as they draw nearer start running like the devil, before they get too close, hang in near them for a short time, as near as you are prepared to risk your skin, and then get out of the way as cleanly as possible. Be careful not to cross the paths of other runners. Look for a gap in the fence to slip through or jump over, or a space against the wall of the street.
As well as the danger inherent in running in front of a bull (it's worth remembering that this is an animal which weights about 600 kilos - some 120 stone - and which has two big rock-hard horns which can cut through practically anything, not to mention possible bruising from just being stepped on, there is also the problem of overcrowding in the run. So you have to be careful not to get bowled over or knocked down by other runners. The crowding is particularly dense at the weekends where the number of visitors to the Fiesta more than doubles.
The run began to some extent through necessity. In those far-off days there were no such things as trucks. But as the [stupid morons] enjoyed the fun of taking the risks it has been kept up so that nowadays it is a spectacle in which thousands of people take part.
On the 15th there is a parody of the run made by some die-hards who refuse to face the fact that the Fiesta is all over and who run in front of the early-morning bus which comes up Santo Domingo street.
At least natural selection will thin out the 'die hards' before they have a chance to breed more stupidity. I'm rooting for the bulls!
4 comments:
Black Friday - my favorite day of the year! A tradition that started five years ago, my sister, mom and I get up at the ass crack of dawn and shop for the better part of the day! I missed it this year cuz I was stuck in Philly (tear), but believe me it takes mad skills to survive a day such as Black Friday; it certaintly isn't for the faint of heart...
Hmmm... this seems like a malicious post aimed towards the Spainard who posted a comment in your "These Are a Few of My Favorite Things..." post. And what's all this hooha against capitalism??? Americans are known for being consumers. In fact, we interpellate or identify ourselves to be consumers. If I remember correctly, you were, and I presume, still are a "die-hard" shopper.
A: That wasn't meant to be malicious. Black Friday and that one bridal day at Filene's Basement always reminded me of the Running of the Bulls, and those are just 2 activities I think are dumb. Plain and simple. The comment wasn't aimed at the recent stranger who misconstrued my intentions and adorned me with her sarcasm and shame.
I was never a diehard shopper, could never afford to be, nor do I (really) wish to be.
I miss you 'anonymous' and so do a lot of your old friends...
"(I bled the) greed from my arm.
Won’t they give it a rest now?
Salt, sweat, sugar on the asphalt.
Our hearts littering the topsoil.
Tune in and we can get the last call."
Oh Jen, how you'll never cease to crack me up! You Rock!
P. So: Maybe the reason I think those activities are dumb is cause I ain't got them mad skills. I would be the poor lady trampled to death by hooves and heels! You are more of a woman than me.
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