The Friday after Thanksgiving is much anticipated by shoppers as on this day many online and offline retailers roll out massive discounts. It is that time of the year when shopping therapy takes precedence over everything else as people queue up to avail of irresistible deals and heavy discounts. A perfect way to kickstart holiday shopping, Black Friday sales, which often start as early as midnight, are met by frenzied crowds filling their shopping bags with loads of items. There is no dearth of online discounts too with many brands offering the best of discounts.
Date of Black Friday 2024
The shopping extravaganza following Thanksgiving (November 28, 2024) this year falls on November 29, 2024, marking an unofficial start of the holiday shopping season in the United States. This pre-Christmas tradition is getting grander with each passing year, as it goes global, spreading to other countries as well.
History of Black Friday
While many thought that the term Black Friday was coined due to the brisk sales or businesses finally making profits (in the black) after 'being in red' or losses for extended periods before Thanksgiving. However, it turns out that this isn't the origin story of the event.
As per Britannica, in the 1960s, Black Friday was the term used by cops in Philadelphia after they had a tough time managing large numbers of suburban tourists that made their way into the city for their holiday shopping and in some years, attended Saturday’s annual Army-Navy football game. Policemen who had to pull longer shifts dealing with traffic jams, accidents, thefts, and other law and order issues called it a 'Black Friday'. Later attempts of rechristening the day as 'Big Friday' failed as 'Black Friday' made its way into the popular psyche.
Significance of Black Friday
Black Friday holds significant cultural and economic importance as the unofficial kickoff to the holiday shopping season in the United States. Over time, it evolved into a retail phenomenon, with businesses offering steep discounts to attract shoppers and boost sales. According to the National Retail Federation, Black Friday consistently ranks among the busiest shopping days of the year. Beyond commerce and sales, it has become an important tradition that brings families and friends together in the pursuit of deals, ahead of the Christmas and holiday season.
(Picture courtesy: Freepik)
