New Delhi: Black Friday is here. The day marks the beginning of the holiday shopping season, and various brands offer massive discounts. There are several controversies surrounding the day’s popularity. But what is Black Friday, and when is it observed?
The day is not just known for offering the best shopping deals, but it is also known for its complicated history. Read on to learn about the history of Black Friday.
The Origins of Black Friday
One of the theories is that the name Black Friday came from the 1960s in Philadelphia. The police department used the term to describe the chaos shoppers negatively, and traffic caused on the day after Thanksgiving in November.
In another theory, shopping after Thanksgiving dates back to the late 1800s. In 1885, people began seeing the day after Thanksgiving as a time to start Christmas shopping. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, which began in 1924, helped signal the start of the holiday season.
Retailers noticed this trend and saw an increase in sales the day after Thanksgiving. By the early 1900s, department stores began promoting special sales to attract shoppers right after Thanksgiving.
The Evolution of Black Friday Shopping
Retailers wanted to change the negative image of “Black Friday”. To do this, they suggested that the term meant the day when retailers moved from losing money (in the red) to making a profit (in the black). In accounting, “red ink” means a loss, while “black ink” means a profit. This new explanation helped people see Black Friday in a positive light for both retailers and shoppers.
By the 1980s, the term became popular across the country, and retailers embraced Black Friday as part of the holiday shopping season.
The term “Black Friday” likely originated with Philadelphia police officers in the 1950s. The first written mention of “Black Friday” in this context appeared in a public relations newsletter in 1961. The newsletter suggested changing the name to “Big Friday”, but that name did not become popular.
Black Friday’s Global Reach
The US is not the only country that recognizes Black Friday. According to Fox News, which cites a digital analytics and SEO marketing firm, over 10 countries celebrate this annual shopping event. Countries that observe Black Friday include Canada, the UK, Sweden, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, South Africa, Ireland, Germany, Italy, Brazil, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand.
Black Friday, the kick-off to the holiday shopping season, boasts a complex history. The day’s evolution highlights the interplay between retail strategy and consumer behaviour. Read on about the origin, history and more about the Black Friday. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
