Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving and one of the biggest shopping days in the U.S., marking the start of the holiday shopping season. Stores offer major discounts and limited-time deals, drawing large crowds and early openings.
The term originally referred to retailers turning a profit—going from “in the red” to “in the black.” Today, it includes in-store and online sales, with many deals starting on Thanksgiving or continuing through Cyber Monday. It's both a shopping event and a modern holiday tradition.
Black Friday History Timeline
1950s – Police in Philadelphia start using the term "Black Friday" to describe the chaos caused by crowds and traffic the day after Thanksgiving, as people flocked downtown before the Army-Navy football game.
1960s – Retailers try to change the name to “Big Friday” due to the negative connotation, but “Black Friday” sticks and spreads beyond Philadelphia.
1980s – The positive spin becomes popular: stores explain that it's the day they go from being “in the red” (losing money) to “in the black” (profitable), thanks to booming sales.
1990s – Black Friday becomes the biggest shopping day of the year in the U.S., with more stores offering early-morning sales and doorbuster deals.
2000s – Stores begin opening earlier—some as early as 5 a.m.—and crowds grow even larger. Online shopping also starts to take off.
2010s – Some major retailers start opening on Thanksgiving night. “Cyber Monday” emerges as an online version of Black Friday, offering digital deals after the weekend.
2020s – Black Friday evolves into a week-long (or month-long) shopping event, with many deals available online. Safety concerns and convenience drive more people to shop from home.