Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, has become a quasi-holiday in the United States that’s marked by consumer discounts, shopping, and sometimes, unfortunate incidents. While its significance is slowly diminishing as online shopping gains momentum, it’s still a big deal in the U.S. Approximately 166 million American consumers went shopping during the Black Friday weekend in 2022. But how did Black Friday start, and what does it all mean?
When did Black Friday Begin?
The term “Black Friday” originally referred to the Panic of 1869, a financial crisis when the price of gold collapsed, devastating the national economy. However, it only became associated with the day after Thanksgiving in 1951 when it was used in a journal to describe the number of employees who skipped work on that day. The police in Philadelphia and Rochester also informally used “Black Friday” to describe the traffic and crowds that appeared in their cities as shoppers hit the stores. The phrase gradually gained popularity and was even adopted by the New York Times in 1975.
But even before it had a name, the day after Thanksgiving was known as the start of the holiday shopping season since the late 1800s. Retailers often sponsored Thanksgiving Day parades that traditionally ended with an appearance by Santa Claus, signaling the beginning of Christmas shopping.
The Problematic Name
The term “black” traditionally denotes a day of calamity or tragedy, leading to suggestions for different names. In the early 1960s, Philadelphia merchants suggested “Big Friday,” but it didn’t catch on. Some retailers explained that “black” in Black Friday referred to the black ink denoting profits, though this explanation didn’t satisfy everyone.
The modern issue with the name is that Black Friday sales now extend for several days, encompassing Saturday, Sunday, “Cyber Monday,” and even Tuesday, leading to phrases like “Do you want to go Black Friday shopping this Sunday?” Alternative names like “Five-Day Frenzy” haven’t gained traction.
The Failure of “Black Thursday” and the Rise of Cyber Monday
Some retailers tried to extend Black Friday back to Thursday, with stores like Walmart and Kmart opening on Thanksgiving. However, this trend eventually reversed, with most major retailers closing on Thanksgiving by 2021.
Cyber Monday, on the other hand, describes the boost in online retail sales on the Monday after Thanksgiving. It first appeared in 2005, becoming a significant day for online shopping.
Buy Nothing Day: Black Friday’s Opposite
Anti-consumerists have dubbed the day after Thanksgiving as “Buy Nothing Day.” You can celebrate it by doing charity work or simply not purchasing anything. Although it’s challenging to measure its impact, retail sales have consistently risen since its inception in 1992.
Black Friday’s Controversies
Black Friday has garnered attention due to various unfortunate incidents, including deaths and injuries. Depending on how you measure it, Black Friday has resulted in between 1 and 17 deaths since 2010, with additional injuries. Critics argue that savings from Black Friday shopping are often illusory, as the best deals tend to sell out quickly, leaving items priced similarly to other times of the year.
Despite the shopping frenzy and controversies, Black Friday remains an unofficial holiday celebrated by millions of Americans. What this says about our country and capitalism is a matter of debate, but it’s essential to consider the implications of our consumer culture. As for me, I’ll stick to my personal post-Thanksgiving tradition of thinking about going for a walk but ending up playing video games instead.