Do you look forward to getting up in the wee hours the day after Thanksgiving for the best Black Friday deals at places like Target, Macy's or Walmart? Or do you prefer to sleep in over the long weekend and start your shopping from the comfort of your desk chair on what's become known as Cyber Monday?
If you prefer Black Friday, you're part of a long shopping tradition. Black Friday has been around for more than 100 years, according to an article on its history in Time. It was already such a crucial kick-off to the holiday shopping season during the Great Depression, that retailers urged President Roosevelt to move Thanksgiving earlier in order to extend the shopping season. He did, but handled the messaging poorly and few people realized there had been a change, which didn't stick. (Who knew?)
Cyber Monday is, no surprise, a much newer phenomenon, joining the lexicon in 2005. But it's made its mark quickly. Last year, Americans spent $1.25 billion online on the Monday after Thanksgiving, making it the best day for online spending in U.S. history, according to ComScore.
Not that everyone views the days after Thanksgiving as a shopping free for all. There's even a campaign for Buy Nothing Day, urging people to take a 24-hour consumerism moratorium the day after Thanksgiving in order to promote a more sustainable world.
What do you prefer? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts in the comments section below.