By now, you must have noticed that we're coming up on one of the year's biggest shopping days - Black Friday! Betcha didn't know it's also "Buy Nothing Day"?

This year marks the 15th anniversary of a day designated by artist and environmentalist Ted Dave of Vancouver, BC (Canada) for evaluating our consumer culture. Social activists around the world mark this day with kooky but peaceful demonstrations such as a "Whirl-Mart" (where participants trot empty shopping carts through stores for hours without buying anything) or enjoy a public credit card cutting-up ceremony.

Would you like some samples? They're free, No Purchase Necessary.

Critics have claimed that this gimmick does little more than postpone the inevitable over-spending that the season guarantees. But Buy Nothing advocates challenge consumers to consider the overall problem of filling our homes with unnecessary purchases destined for the garbage heap once the "planned obsolescence" moment arrives. The idea here is, rethink your spending over the whole year, not just on this day.

What will you be doing next week after Thanksgiving? Will you be the eager early-bird shopper shivering in the pre-dawn gloom outside your nearest big box retailer? Or will you and your friends be practicing your conga line with a few carts?

Head back to our home page now to vote, or post your comment here!

Photo credit (Nothing samples): Adbusters