What is the real story behind the origin of Black Friday? What you should know

November 29, 2024

Every year, the day after Thanksgiving, millions of shoppers flock to stores and websites looking for the best deals of the season. But how did this retail tradition come to be called “Black Friday”?

The term originated in 1950s Philadelphia and was coined by local police officers to describe the chaos of the day. Over time, the name evolved and took on a whole new meaning that was tied to the retailers’ financial success

What are the origins of Black Friday?

The term “Black Friday” originated in Philadelphia in the 1950s and 1960s when local police officers coined the term to describe the rowdy tourists and chaos that occurred the day after Thanksgiving.

Heavy traffic, overcrowding and increased shoplifting, along with the Army-Navy football game, led to a day of anxiety for law enforcement. According to the History Channel, officials who were unable to take the day off negatively referred to the day as “Black Friday” because of the strain it placed on their resources.

To get rid of the negative connotation, Philadelphia retailers tried to rename the day “Big Friday.” However, the attempt was unsuccessful. In the 1980s, the term evolved into the shopping holiday we know today. The term took on a more positive meaning when companies began using it to describe the day their finances went “in the black” – indicating that they went from a loss to a profit thanks to an increase in sales.

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