Top 5 Ads for Buy Nothing Day: November 23

Zen Santa from Adbusters

Buy Nothing Day (BND) was founded in the early 1990s by Vancouver artist Ted Dave and subsequently promoted by Adbusters magazine until it grew into a global event. In North America, it’s celebrated on Black Friday – one of the busiest shopping days of the year. Around the world, it’s celebrated on the last Saturday in November.

The movement is a response to the gluttony of consumerism. For one day each year, BND suggests people detox from shopping and really live those 24 hours instead. That could mean hiking, meditating, reading, partying or spending time with family. It also encourages people to think about the effects of our impulsive and compulsive shopping habits.

Buy Nothing Day UK

According to Buy Nothing Day UK, “…only 20% of the world population are consuming over 80% of the earth’s natural resources, causing a disproportionate level of environmental damage and unfair distribution of wealth. As consumers, we should question the products we buy and the companies who produce them.”

As teenagers, my cousin and I made an annual ritual of shopping at the mall on Black Friday. Now, I’d rather endure a 24-hour Jackie Chan movie marathon than the holiday shopping frenzy. (My husband will understand how this statement reeks of desperation.)I hate crowds. I hate traffic jams. And I really would prefer that my daughter learn to focus on other parts of the holiday season. Tomorrow, we plan to share Thanksgiving leftovers with friends. To me, that will always beat waiting outside a store for six hours just to be one of the first to spend $600.