Black Friday: A Tradition of Caffeine, Chaos, and Christmas Cheer

There was a time when Black Friday wasn’t just a shopping day — it was an event. A family tradition. A night (and early morning) full of laughter, planning, and caffeine-fueled chaos.

Growing up, Thanksgiving Day didn’t officially end with dessert — it ended with a stack of store ads spread across the living room floor. The girls in the family would gather around, coffee in hand, flipping through glossy pages of deals that seemed too good to be true. We circled our wish lists, compared notes, and mapped out our plan like it was a military mission — who was going to Target, who was hitting Walmart, and which line we needed to get in first.

The Early Morning Excitement

Before the sun even thought about rising, we’d bundle up in our coziest coats, head to Kwik Trip for that much-needed coffee or cappuccino and start our adventure. There was something magical about standing in line with dozens of other sleepy shoppers, all with the same goal —snagging that year’s hottest toy, the newest game console, or those cozy pajamas for Mom. The air was cold, the car was warm, and Christmas music played softly through the speakers — “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” always hit different at 4 a.m.

The Joy of the Hunt

Once the doors opened, it was pure adrenaline. Carts squeaked, people hustled, and we all laughed our way through the aisles, arms full of gifts and deals we were sure we couldn’t pass up. And honestly, even when we didn’t get everything on our list, the memories were the real win.

The Reward: Breakfast & Laughter

After hours of shopping, we’d meet back up, tired but giddy, and head to our favorite local restaurant for breakfast. Pancakes, coffee refills, and comparing what we scored — it was the perfect ending to our annual Black Friday adventure.

From Chaos to Comfort

These days, many of us have traded the long lines for online deals in our pajamas, coffee in one hand and our phones in the other. But there’s still something so nostalgic about remembering those chilly mornings, the family bonding, and that feeling of holiday magic that kicked off the Christmas season.

Maybe we don’t circle ads anymore, but the tradition lives on — in the laughter, the music, and the memories that remind us what the holidays are all about: togetherness. So, whether you’re shopping from your couch this year or hitting the stores for old time’s sake, grab that cappuccino, cue up the Christmas playlist, and let the spirit of Black Friday remind you how much joy can come from a simple family tradition.