Why Is It Called Black Friday? The History Behind the Name
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Black Friday is one of the biggest shopping events of the year, but have you ever wondered why it is called “Black Friday”?
The name might sound ominous, but its history has nothing to do with anything negative—at least not anymore.
Let’s break down the origins of Black Friday and how it became the shopping frenzy we know today.
1. The Earliest Use of “Black Friday” Had Nothing to Do with Shopping
Before it became associated with sales and discounts, the term “Black Friday” was actually used in the 1800s to describe a financial crisis.
On September 24, 1869, two Wall Street financiers, Jay Gould and James Fisk, attempted to corner the gold market, which led to a financial collapse.
The stock market plummeted, businesses failed, and it became known as Black Friday due to the economic devastation.
This had nothing to do with holiday shopping, but it was one of the first recorded uses of the term.
2. Philadelphia Police Coined the Term for a Different Reason
The Black Friday we know today actually originated in Philadelphia in the 1950s and 1960s.
Every year, on the day after Thanksgiving, huge crowds would flood Philadelphia’s streets for two major events:
The Army-Navy football game, held on that Saturday
The start of holiday shopping season
With thousands of people in the city, traffic jams, overcrowding, and chaos became a nightmare for police officers, who had to work long hours managing the mayhem.
Philadelphia police unofficially started calling it “Black Friday” because of how stressful it was.
Retailers in Philadelphia disliked the negative connotation, and some tried calling it “Big Friday” instead—but that name never caught on.
3. The Positive “Black Friday” Meaning: Stores Going into the Black
By the 1980s, businesses found a new, more positive way to define Black Friday.
In accounting, financial records are traditionally kept in red ink to indicate losses and black ink to indicate profits.
Since the day after Thanksgiving marked the beginning of holiday shopping, many retailers finally moved from “the red” (losing money) into “the black” (making a profit).
Retailers started embracing the name Black Friday, associating it with big discounts, massive sales, and increased revenue instead of traffic jams and police headaches.
4. How Black Friday Became a Global Shopping Phenomenon
Over time, Black Friday grew beyond Philadelphia and spread across the United States.
It became the official start of holiday shopping season, with retailers competing to offer the best deals.
By the 2000s, Black Friday had transformed into a national event, with stores opening as early as midnight (and later, Thanksgiving evening).
Shoppers lined up outside stores for doorbuster deals, and the day became known for wild crowds and long lines.
Black Friday eventually went global, with countries like Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and even parts of Asia and South America adopting their own versions of the shopping holiday.
5. Cyber Monday and the Evolution of Black Friday
With the rise of online shopping, a new shopping holiday emerged—Cyber Monday.
Created in 2005, Cyber Monday was designed to encourage people to shop online after Black Friday weekend.
Today, Black Friday is no longer just a one-day event—many retailers extend deals for an entire week or even all of November.
Some businesses even call it “Black November” to maximize sales.
Final Thoughts
Black Friday has come a long way from its chaotic Philadelphia roots.
What started as a police nightmare has turned into a shopping tradition that people eagerly anticipate every year.
So, the next time you score a great deal on Black Friday, remember—you are participating in a shopping event with a history that goes back over a century!
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