Read Up on the History of Black Friday, America's Busiest Shopping Day of the Year
While Thanksgiving represents giving thanks, eating a Thanksgiving dinner surrounded by family and friends, and reflecting on what we're grateful for, it also marks the beginning of the Christmas season, when millions of Americans begin contemplating the presents they'll buy for those they love. And while years past have been marked by busy department stores and malls from the end of November to December 25, nothing compared to the hysteria of in-person Black Friday shopping.
For many, Black Friday means taking advantage of their favorite stores' crazy-good deals and staying up late, or getting up super early to stand in long lines to purchase heavily discounted items for their loved ones. But with all of the chaos that surrounds every super-shopper's favorite day, have you ever wondered about Black Friday's history? Sure, it's known now as the busiest shopping day of the year, but you may be surprised to learn that its backstory is rather interesting. To help you understand the history of Black Friday, we've done all of the research for you. That way, when you're scouring your local store for the best deal (or swapping Thanksgiving trivia at the dinner table), you'll have a better appreciation for one of the craziest (but still wonderful) times of the year.
Why do we call it Black Friday?
Although the term "Black Friday" is solely associated with holiday shopping these days, it wasn't always that way. The phrase was first coined in 1869 to describe the financial crisis after the United States's gold market crashed, according to the History Channel. It then became linked to retail after stores were "in the red" for the entire year, which indicated poor sales. The day after Thanksgiving, retailers were "in the black" after the influx of shoppers spent their money on discounted goods.
When was the first Black Friday?
According to CNN Money, the first Black Friday dates back to 1950s Philadelphia. The city used the term to describe all of the shoppers from the suburbs that flocked to Philadelphia in the days after Thanksgiving. Why were so many people there? Stores around the city were promoting sales ahead of the Army/Navy game that took place on the Saturday after Turkey Day.
Does Black Friday start on Thanksgiving?
In the past, the extreme bargain-shopping holiday took the nation by full force, becoming a four-day buying extravaganza with spin-offs such as Small Business Saturday, Small Business Sunday, and Cyber Monday. With digital shopping on the rise, shoppers don't have to wait until midnight on Thanksgiving Day to begin their Christmas shopping, with brands like Amazon, Target, Macys, and Best Buy (among many others) putting out Black Friday deals both online and in store far ahead of the actual Friday after Thanksgiving.
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