DENVER - The Christmas tree started going up in front of the Cherry Creek Shopping Center on Tuesday. Twinkle lights and garland are decorating stores all over the metro area. It won't be long before Santa stops by stores.
Somewhere in the midst of all of it, there is still a holiday that isn't about giving anything but thanks.
"That is the one holiday that it's no presents, no gifts just be with your family and now it's shopping," Heidi Plummer said.
She lives in Denver and wishes retailers wouldn't put so much emphasis on spending quite so early.
Still more stores are adding to the list of those opening on Thanksgiving or at midnight that night.
We searched online for "Black Friday back lash" and there were 1.2 million results.
One of them is a petition: "Tell Target to Save Thanksgiving." It was started by an employee named Anthony Hardwick in Omaha, Neb. He says employees should not have to pull an all-nighter at work. He says it takes away from a holiday that is supposed to be about family.
At last check, more than 91,000 agreed. Some used words like "insensitive," "cruel" and "employee abuse" in their comments.
There are others who aren't as sympathetic.
There is now a petition to stop their petition. David Scarpola from Baltimore says active military members often miss the birth of a child, and years' worth of holidays as they work. The support for his anti-petition is growing.
One comment states, "As someone out of work, be grateful you have a job to work at. Go to work."
There are other posts that talk about strange schedules being part of the retail territory.
Some online retailers have already launched sales under the banner of Black November. They aren't waiting for Black Friday or even what is known as "Cyber Monday."
Many retailers like Walmart are catering to both. Black Friday prices already are available online, but the stores are still planning big discounts on the big day.
The hours are a way to compete with the "always-open" Internet.
Ellen Davis with the National Retail Federation says despite any back lash she expects a busy shopping day and more stores catering to shoppers who want early access to deals.
"We're seeing a lot of retailers opening their doors Thanksgiving night at midnight intentionally so that people don't have to go to sleep and wake up early. They can just stay up all night long and shop," she said.
(KUSA-TV © 2011 Multimedia Holdings Corporation)