It’s that time of year: The leaves fall off the trees, the weather becomes chilly, trees are decorated with bulbs, lights and ornaments and — people are trampled to death?

Perhaps the smell of mistletoe or the baking of homemade apple pie is what creates this sudden anger in shoppers.

However, it appears that the after-Thanksgiving rush to finish all holiday shopping has become worse as the years have gone by.

Just this past Black Friday, a Wal-Mart employee was trampled to death in a New York stampede of eager shoppers when trying to open the door early that morning. So what is our nation coming to?

Well, I can’t complain too much. I too have committed a Black Friday sin. I was sent on a mission to purchase a brand new Dooney and Bourke purse as a gift for my mother from my father.

Arriving at the store, I searched for exactly the one my mother wanted, and when I spotted it, someone else had it in her hands. I should note it was the only one left.

So instead of looking for another purse, I snatched it out of this older woman’s hands and ran for the checkout. Needless to say, the look on my mother’s face that Christmas Day gave me a feeling of accomplishment.

In 1999, Black Friday sales reached an estimated $343.6 billion, and in fewer than 10 years sales reached an estimated $474.5 billion, according to CNN Money. However, it isn’t just Black Friday. November and December together can account for almost 50 percent of merchants’ annual profits and sales.

The urge of what appears to be the entire nation to wake up extremely early or stay up all night to purchase a cheap television set seems quite ridiculous.

However, these purchases don’t just affect merchandisers. They affect fast food restaurants as well. When a McDonald’s in Minnesota feels the need to schedule 35 people to work an early morning shift to serve the early bird shoppers, we know the nation has become obsessed.

You may love Black Friday with a passion; however, the fast food employees dread this day all year long.

Despite all that can be said about Black Friday, other times of the year spark that eagerness in shoppers as well.

Whenever a new product comes out, like the Xbox 360 and the Wii or concert tickets for a big, famous artist, shoppers feel the urge to place themselves outside buildings, sometimes camping out overnight to be some of the very first to receive these various items.

However, many of us know that these products will be restocked and placed back onto the shelves for us to purchase, and there will be other concerts to attend.

So why do we continue, year after year, to torture ourselves, not to mention risk our lives, for a $3.99 DVD?

I suppose it’s up to the individual. However, shoppers especially need to be more aware of their actions on this dreadful day and during the holiday shopping season overall.

Whether you feel like waking up at 2 a.m. to purchase the latest edition of a new video game is worth it, or you’re the poor soul who must work the dreaded Black Friday rush; we all know those products will most likely be around during the few weeks that follow.

So next year, sleep in, and enjoy your day after Thanksgiving in relaxation. You’ll still have four glorious weeks to finish your holiday shopping.