Buy Nothing Day: A Day of Anti-Consumerist Protest

Buy Nothing Day is an international day of anti-consumerist protest that encourages people not to shop for one day. It was created by Canadian artist Ted Dave and promoted by magazine and nonprofit Adbusters in 1992. The day was initially observed in September but was later moved to the Friday after American Thanksgiving, also called “Black Friday,” which is one of the ten busiest shopping days in the United States. The day was created to raise awareness about the effects of consumerism on society, the economy, and the environment. More than 65 nations currently participate in it, and it is observed in over 65 countries.