For the Naughton family of five, Friday morning may well have been the start of a new tradition.
"We got up early, got out of bed, we got dressed and came to church," said Ali Naughton, a mother of five.
You read that correctly -- they came to church on Black Friday.
They called it, simply enough, "Black Friday at Church." Hundreds of people packed into the Unity Church-Unitarian in St. Paul with one goal in mind: reclaiming the holiday season.
"So what we're really saying is, let's take back Black Friday as the beginning of the Christmas season that has some different values to it," said William Doherty with Unity Church.
Organizers say they hope the event takes hold and is even picked up by other denominations and churches, as well.
Kevin Kling, the event's featured speaker and world renown playwright and writer, told the group it's a matter of perception.
"This time of year can be so complex and so many things coming down on us," Kling said. "Just take a minute to step back and say 'no, this time is really something else. This time is about family and faith and about the changing of the season.'"
That's already ringing true for the Naughton family. They say they're looking to start a few new traditions this holiday season.
"We have a small family and I want to start thinking about this in the right way and remembering what this time of year is for, it's not about buying things," said Ali Naughton.
