- Black Friday occurs at the end of November on the Friday after American Thanksgiving. It is not an official holiday; however, it is the most popular shopping day in the US. On Black Friday, US retailers offer special discounts to encourage people to begin their holiday shopping.
- Retailers often open early on Black Friday. In fact, the opening times seem to get earlier each year, and some stores open as early as midnight. Serious shoppers camp out the night before to make sure they are first in line for big-ticket items. Discounted electronics are often only available in limited quantities.
- The term “Black Friday” originated in the 1960s. Bus and taxi drivers used the word “black” to describe heavy traffic the day after Thanksgiving. Retailers, on the other hand, had a different explanation. With holiday shopping in full swing, their businesses were no longer in the red. (Traditionally, red ink meant debt and black ink meant profit.)
- As Black Friday caught on, many Canadians began heading south for cross-border shopping. Canadian retailers had to offer special deals to keep shoppers in Canada. Likewise, retailers in other countries, including India, France, and Mexico, adopted Black Friday promotions to jump-start holiday shopping. In fact, these days, Black Friday is more of a season than a single shopping day.
- In some ways, Black Friday is the opposite of Thanksgiving. On Thanksgiving Day, people enjoy food with friends and family and express thanks for what they have. In contrast, Black Friday shoppers stand in long lines to buy things they don’t need. Fights often break out, and some people have even been killed in crowded parking lots and malls.
- Many people think Black Friday has taken the focus away from family during the holidays. Moreover, it encourages consumerism in a world that needs to be more eco-conscious. Those who are against Black Friday can observe “Buy Nothing Day” instead.