Black Friday

Black Friday is observed in the United States and beyond on the day after Thanksgiving. It’s an amazing day for shopaholics—easy to snag the biggest discounts of the year! Some people wait all year for this date to treat themselves.

History

The term “Black Friday” was popularized in the 1960s in Philadelphia to describe the heavy pedestrian and vehicle traffic the day after Thanksgiving. It later spread nationwide, marking the start of the holiday shopping season. Retailers embraced the name to signify the point at which they move “into the black,” or become profitable. Originally, discounts were limited to just one day, but now sales often last for days or even weeks, with the peak still on Friday. Twenty states recognize it as an official holiday, and some employers give staff the day off. Stores open early—if you show up at noon, you might miss the best deals and limited-time doorbusters, like flash sales that disappear within minutes!

Interesting Facts

• Most Americans do the bulk of their holiday shopping not on Black Friday, but on the Saturday before Christmas—driven by last-minute gift hunters and extended online deals that fill in the gap left by early bird sales.
• Similar shopping holidays now exist in many countries worldwide, each adapting the concept to local traditions, such as Singles’ Day in China or Boxing Day sales in the UK.
• In 2008, a mob in one store trampled an employee to death—a tragic reminder of the day’s intensity, which led many retailers to improve crowd-control and security measures.
• Every year, more people shop online, prompting e-commerce platforms to innovate with flash sales, limited-time coupon codes, and interactive live streams that mimic in-store excitement.
• Retailers have tried renaming the day several times (e.g., “Big Friday”) to soften the “dark” connotation, but “Black Friday” remains the dominant name—now cemented in pop culture and social media hashtags.

How to Take Part

• Scout deals in advance—subscribe to retailer newsletters and use price-tracking tools to verify that the marked-down price is actually a bargain.
• Plan your route through the mall or map out your online cart to prioritize the hottest items before they sell out and avoid decision fatigue.
• Share your finds on social media to compare purchases with friends or join online communities where members swap coupon codes, insider tips, and best-time-to-shop alerts.
• Combine store deals with cashback and reward programs to maximize savings—you can stack retailer discounts with credit card offers or loyalty points for even deeper bargains.

When is Black Friday in 2025?

Black Friday is observed on the day after Thanksgiving each year.

Observations