Why do these stores stay open? It’s not just for forgotten cranberry sauce. It’s for the lonely souls. For the travelers stuck in airports. For the firefighter working a double shift. For the person whose Christmas tree caught fire (yes, that happens).
It’s also for the chaos. Imagine working Christmas because someone needs a pack of gum. That’s dedication. Or absurdity. Either way, it’s a beautiful, weird world.
The weirdest things people buy
Studies show that on Christmas Day, sales of AA batteries spike 400%. Also: wrapping paper, tape, and—I kid you not—single rolls of toilet paper. You know someone is having a crisis. The other top item? Dog food. Because Fluffy doesn’t care about holiday hours.
One year, a friend bought a trampoline from a store open on Christmas. “It was on sale,” she said. The trampoline sat in the living room next to the tree. The children jumped while the turkey burned. Epic.
