What is the true story behind the origins of Black Friday? What to know

On November 29, 2024By Littum

Every year, millions of shoppers throng stores and websites the day after Thanksgiving looking for the best deals of the season. But how did this retail tradition come to be called ‘Black Friday‘?

The term originated in 1950s Philadelphia, coined by local police officers to describe the chaos of the time. Over time, the name evolved and took on a whole new meaning linked to the retailers’ financial success

What is the origin of Black Friday?

The term “Black Friday” originated in Philadelphia in the 1950s and 1960s, when local police officers coined the term to describe the rowdy tourists and chaos that ensued the day after Thanksgiving.

Heavy traffic, overcrowding and increased shoplifting, combined with the Army-Navy football game, led to a day of law enforcement fears. Officers who were unable to take time off referred to the day negatively as “Black Friday” because of the strain it placed on their resources, according to History Channel.

In an effort to remove its negative connotations, Philadelphia retailers attempted to rebrand the day as “Big Friday”. However, the effort was in vain. In the 1980s, the term evolved into the shopping holiday we know today. It took on a more positive meaning when companies started using it to describe the day their finances turned “into the black” – indicating a shift from loss to profit thanks to an increase in sales.

When is Black Friday 2024?

Every year, Black Friday takes place the day after Thanksgiving, which means some of the best pre-holiday deals and sales will be on Friday, November 29, 2024.