Every year following Thanksgiving, retail stores around the country offer huge discounts in order to jumpstart the Christmas shopping season. Large crowds, high demand, and low supply make it a day for only the bravest shoppers looking for that perfect gift. When Mary was pregnant with Jesus, Caesar demanded a census be taken for tax and military purposes. This would be a financial boon to the economy, but also meant lots of travel and large crowds as each family returned to their hometown to be counted. For Mary and Joseph, it would mean no available lodging and navigating uncomfortable circumstances.