Business & Tech

Should Shopping on Thanksgiving Come to Bay State?

By Roberto Scalese

After years of hinting at Thanksgiving night shopping, a couple of massive retailers are taking the plunge. Macy's and Kohl's both announced they will open locations at 8 p.m. Thanksgiving evening. 

Thursday night shopping is the logical extension of Black Friday, which started as an early-morning super-sale for retailers looking to jumpstart their holiday shopping seasons.

Over the last few years, the start time has crept from daybreak to midnight. And with two gigantic retailers opening Thursday night, others are sure to follow.

But not in Massachusetts. 

The commonwealth still bans retail businesses from operating on Thanksgiving and Christmas day. It's part of the state's infamous blue laws, which were moral laws put in place in the 1600s.

While the laws have slowly been repealed and rolled back, the holiday shopping ban remains in place. 

What do you think? Should the state get with the times and allow Thanksgiving shopping? Or have you had it with the consumerist creep into the holiday season?

What about employees? Should they be forced to work on one of the biggest American holidays of the year? Or does this ban, old as it is, give us all a break?

Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.


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