Why Does It Called 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 raise questions among many people. Why does it have such a name? In this article, we will explore the history and origins of Black Friday, and shed light on why it is called as such.
The term “Black Friday” has its roots in the 1960s when Philadelphia police referred to the day after Thanksgiving as “Black Friday” due to the heavy traffic and the chaos that accompanied the shopping rush. However, the name took on a different meaning in the 1980s when the National Retail Federation (NRF) started using it to promote the shopping event.
The term “Black Friday” originally referred to the financial aspect of the day. Before the 20th century, retailers typically operated on a cash accounting system, where profits and losses were recorded in red and black ink, respectively. If a company’s profits were in the red, it meant that the company was operating at a loss. However, if a company’s profits were in the black, it meant that the company was making a profit.
In the context of Black Friday, the term “black” was used to symbolize the day when retailers finally turned a profit after months of operating at a loss. This was due to the massive shopping spree that occurred on the day after Thanksgiving, which marked the beginning of the holiday shopping season. As a result, retailers would “turn the black” on Black Friday, and the term became synonymous with the shopping event.
Over time, the term “Black Friday” has evolved to represent the shopping frenzy that takes place on the day after Thanksgiving. It is now a day when millions of consumers flock to stores and online platforms to take advantage of the incredible deals and discounts offered by retailers. While the financial aspect of the term remains, the shopping aspect has become more prominent in popular culture.
In conclusion, the name “Black Friday” originated from the financial aspect of the day when retailers turned a profit after months of operating at a loss. However, it has now become synonymous with the shopping event that takes place on the day after Thanksgiving. As the holiday shopping season kicks off, Black Friday continues to be a highly anticipated day for both retailers and consumers alike.
