By SJ Otto

Each year I write about Black Friday, that fabricated holiday that corporate and capitalist leaders came up with to promote an orgy of gift selling and buying. Most of this was actually written last year. I just updated it a little.

I’ve never really liked this holiday, especially since I am a member of Democratic Socialist of America (DSA) and this phenomenon is the antithesis of my beliefs. I especially dislike sitting through all those stupid television commercials. And yet I have to admit that it is almost amusing, the sheer silliness of it. Most people who take part in this orgy of consumerism wait until the day after Thanksgiving and they get up at ridiculously early hours to buy things no one really needs—really cheap at the stores who promote this holiday. I even enjoy making fun of some of the advertising, especially the TV ads.

This is a prelude to the Christmas season, another month, or more, of shopping for gifts for family members and friends. People spend a ridiculous amount of money on people who will probably never appreciate all the money, time and effort it took to buy all these gifts for this gift-giving season. This is for a holiday celebrating the birth of a poor god-man. The actual holiday was started over many thousands of years ago, to celebrate the Winter Solstice. Most of the traditions—Christmas tree, Santa Claus figure, mistletoe, gift giving was carried over through Christianity (about 2,000 years ago if we can believe the modern AD calendar).

There were some ancient god festivals such as Saturnalia. That festival was an ancient Roman festival in honour of the god Saturn, held on 17 December of the Julian calendar and later expanded with festivities through to 23 December. The holiday was celebrated with a sacrifice at the Temple of Saturn, in the Roman Forum, and a public banquet, followed by private gift-giving, continual partying, and a carnival atmosphere that overturned Roman social norms: gambling was permitted, and masters provided table service for their slaves as it was seen as a time of liberty for both slaves and freedmen alike. A common custom was the election of a "King of the Saturnalia", who would give orders to people, which were to be followed and preside over the merrymaking. The gifts exchanged were usually gag gifts or small figurines made of wax or pottery known as sigillaria. The poet Catullus called it "the best of days".

This is supposed to be a day to promote a religion that seems to have little to do with the actual Christmas holiday, or Black Friday.

It almost seems that venders can hardly wait for the Christmas season to begin. Christmas decorations go up in the stores the day after Halloween (AKA Samhain). Corporations can hardly wait to begin hawking their wares.

Every year I make fun of Black Friday and post satirical songs and pictures. I will have more postings for the actual real day of Black Friday. Ridiculing this holiday requires more than just one posting.

Bad News - Cashing In On Christmas

Santa Claus Used to be a spirit of generosity and gift giving. Today he represents raw capitalism.

Uncle Bernie's Farm- Mothers

What could be more diabolical than Fred Flintstone hawking cigarettes?

I like cigarette advertising because it represents the ultimate crime of capitalism. Cigarettes were addictive, horrible for our health and they were advertised as if they were perfectly harmless. There as no concern for people’s health and that industry continues to sell their poison today. This is not a case of just one product that should have not been promoted, capitalism will sell anything that makes a buck and they don’t really care what the consequences are.