Who doesn’t love the weekend after Thanksgiving?!
Not only is everyone is full of delicious food and in a warm, fuzzy mood as they cozy up for the holiday season… it’s also the absolute BEST time to snag amazing deals, hands down.
Yup… we’re talking about Black Friday and Cyber Monday!
According to the National Retail Federation, about 70% of adults in the US shop during the weekend after Thanksgiving – either online or in retail stores. Although the Saturday before Christmas is actually the single biggest shopping day of the year for retailers (because, let’s face it, we’ll all be out there too)… the Black Friday/Cyber Monday weekend easily makes up the biggest sales period of the year for all retailers, online and offline.
However… the idea of Black Friday has changed a lot over the years. While most of us have images in our heads of long lines with frenzied crowds ready to burst through the doors at the exact moment the store opens, this is actually evolving – and fast.
Forget Black Friday – Cyber Monday is taking over the whole weekend!
A recent survey by Deloitte found that 53% of people are looking for Cyber Monday discounts this year – but only 44% say they’re preparing for Black Friday. That means more people are shopping online than in stores these days!
Of course, this actually makes a lot of sense. Online shopping is easier and faster… it helps you discover more deals and more gift ideas… and you don’t even have to elbow past anyone to find what you’re looking for!
So, it wouldn’t be too silly to predict that we’ll soon replace the “Black Friday” name with something more fitting – like “Web Weekend”. (Err… we can work on that.)
Okay! Now you know what Black Friday looks like today. It’s still the most popular time of year to shop, and it’s only getting better – although the deals are more often online than in physical stores these days.
But hey – why is it called Black Friday, exactly?
A brief history of Black Friday: Not what you think!
Before we get to the REAL story, first we need to cover a few myths about the origins of “Black Friday” out there.
The most popular myth is that most retailers would operate at a loss (“in the red”) throughout the year – until the day after Thanksgiving. Then, the massive swing in sales would result in many retailers finally becoming profitable for the year (“entering the black”).
Sadly, this simply isn’t true. While retailers did indeed record their profitability using black and red, they weren’t necessarily operating at a loss all year. It’s not completely clear where this myth comes from, but we know it isn’t accurate.
There’s one other myth, which is a bit more disturbing. It says that in the 1800s, plantation owners were offered discounts on slaves on the day after Thanksgiving. This is completely false and doesn’t appear to be rooted in ANY historical evidence. However, the myth carries on, and some have even boycotted Black Friday due to this false story.
So, that leaves us with just one question: what’s the REAL story?
The true meaning of “Black Friday”
To discover the origins, let’s go back to the 1950s – to a police station in Philadelphia. It’s the day after Thanksgiving, and something BIG is happening.
No, it’s not the day we know as Black Friday… yet. It’s even bigger…
It’s FOOTBALL!
To be more specific, it’s the annual Army-Navy game… and the streets of Philadelphia are in CHAOS!
Massive hordes of people are swarming the city, enjoying a full day around the big game – and retailers have started to notice. They start putting up special deals for these crowds of football fans, resulting in even more chaos around the city.
Now, if you’re a local football fan or bargain hunter, this sounds like the greatest day ever. Everyone is out and feeling pleasant since they all have the day off (and just finished a great meal the night before). The shop owners are happy, too, because their stores are full.
So, how did this joyous day get such a dark name?
Well, there’s one group that isn’t so happy. Remember, we’re in a police station – and NOBODY gets the day off. In fact, many of the officers have been working all night… and will keep working into the next evening.
Shoplifters are having a field day. Traffic is a nightmare. Complaints are at an all-time high and fights are breaking out – sometimes over deals, sometimes over football, occasionally a mix of both.
To these officers, the Friday after Thanksgiving was about as dark as it could get. And they started calling the day “Black Friday” as a result. A few newspapers quoted officers using the term, and the rest is history.
The rise of “Big Friday” – and the “Black Friday” we know today
Of course, the idea of Black Friday has changed a lot since then. Although the officers weren’t too happy, everyone else was – and we all agreed that we should keep the tradition alive.
By the 1980s, the “Black Friday” name was in common use. At some point, an attempt was even made to change the name to “Big Friday” (to get rid of any negative connotation), but it turns out people aren’t really bothered by the name – we just want the special deals!
So, to summarize: Although the concept of “Black Friday” does come from a fittingly dark origin story, it’s evolved into a celebration of gift-giving since then.
And yes… chaos can still reign here and there. But the rise of online shopping has only made things better for all of us – not to mention those police officers, who may soon be able to finally take the day off!
Looking for Black Friday & Cyber Monday deals? We’ve got you covered!
Alright! Now that you know a bit about the backstory, it’s time to join the fun yourself! This year it seems like everyone did Black Friday digitally… and for good reason. Not only is it much safer, it’s also a better way to find amazing deals. And guess what? We’re no exception! We had a HUGE Black Friday Week Sale… and it’s still going on as you read this. Check out all the awesome deals on 45+ innovative products below:
Sale #1: Reader’s Favorites
Sale #2: Top Smartphone & Computer Gifts
Sale #3: Handy Home Innovations
Sale #4: Bulk Deals & Big Discounts