Why Do We Call It Black Friday?
Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, has become a highly anticipated shopping event in the United States. However, the name “Black Friday” may seem a bit confusing, as it doesn’t necessarily evoke the image of a day filled with joy and excitement. So, why do we call it Black Friday? Let’s delve into the history and origins of this intriguing name.
The term “Black Friday” has its roots in the 1960s when it was used by the Philadelphia Police Department to describe the heavy traffic and general chaos that occurred on the day after Thanksgiving. The day was so busy that it was a “black” day for the city’s police force. However, the name took on a different meaning in the 1980s when retailers began to use it to promote their post-Thanksgiving sales.
According to the National Retail Federation, the term “Black Friday” was first used by the Philadelphia Police Department in 1961. The department used the term to describe the heavy traffic and the general chaos that occurred on the day after Thanksgiving. The day was so busy that it was a “black” day for the city’s police force, as they had to deal with the massive crowds and the resulting traffic jams.
In the 1980s, the term began to take on a different meaning when retailers started using it to promote their post-Thanksgiving sales. The idea was that the heavy sales on Black Friday would help retailers “turn the black” and move from a loss-making period to a profitable one. The term “black” in this context referred to the financial ledger, where a “black” line indicates a profit.
The name “Black Friday” has since become synonymous with massive shopping deals and discounts. It’s a day when retailers offer significant discounts on a wide range of products, attracting millions of shoppers across the country. The day has become so popular that it has even spread to other countries, where it’s known as “Black Friday” or “Black Friday Sales.”
In conclusion, the name “Black Friday” has a rich history that has evolved over time. It started as a term used by the Philadelphia Police Department to describe the chaos on the day after Thanksgiving, but it has since been adopted by retailers to promote their post-Thanksgiving sales. Today, Black Friday is a day filled with excitement and the promise of great deals, and its name remains a mystery to many who wonder why it’s called “Black Friday.
