The day after Thanksgiving, known as Black Friday, marks one of the busiest shopping days in the United States, renowned for its doorbuster deals and frenzied crowds. However, the term’s history extends far beyond its current association with retail sales.
Contrary to popular belief, the name Black Friday does not stem from the idea of businesses moving from financial losses (“in the red”) to profits (“in the black”). Instead, its roots trace back to 1960s Philadelphia, where police officers coined the term to describe the chaos caused by large crowds of suburban shoppers flooding the city. These visitors often came to begin holiday shopping and attend the annual Army-Navy football game. The influx created traffic jams and required longer police shifts. Efforts to rebrand the day as “Big Friday” by local merchants failed to gain traction.
By the late 1980s, the narrative surrounding Black Friday shifted as retailers nationwide embraced the “red-to-black” profit story, transforming the day into a symbol of economic positivity. Today, Black Friday is marketed as the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season, featuring massive discounts both in stores and online.
Modern Black Friday has also inspired other shopping events. Small Business Saturday promotes supporting local retailers, Cyber Monday highlights online shopping deals, and Giving Tuesday encourages charitable donations.
Interestingly, the phrase Black Friday predates its shopping context, appearing in financial history. On September 24, 1869, a financial panic erupted when financiers Jay Gould and Jim Fisk attempted to monopolize the U.S. gold market. Intervention by President Ulysses S. Grant caused gold prices to plummet, leading to widespread bankruptcies.
Whether as a shopping phenomenon or historical anecdote, Black Friday continues to captivate and evolve, embodying a mix of consumerism and tradition.
