What is the day after Thanksgiving, regarded as the first day of the Christmas shopping season?

Black Friday is an informal name for the Friday following Thanksgiving Day in the United States, which is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. The day after Thanksgiving has been regarded as the beginning of America's Christmas shopping season since 1952, although the term "Black Friday" didn't become widely used until more recent decades.

Many stores offer highly promoted sales on Black Friday and open very early, such as at midnight, or may even start their sales at some time on Thanksgiving. Black Friday is not an official holiday, but California and some other states observe "The Day After Thanksgiving" as a holiday for state government employees, sometimes in lieu of another federal holiday, such as Columbus Day. Many non-retail employees and schools have both Thanksgiving and the following Friday off, which, along with the following regular weekend, makes it a four-day weekend, thereby increasing the number of potential shoppers.

Black Friday has routinely been the busiest shopping day of the year in the United States since 2005, although news reports, which at that time were inaccurate, have described it as the busiest shopping day of the year for a much longer period of time. Similar stories resurface year upon year at this time, portraying hysteria and shortage of stock, creating a state of positive feedback.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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56 Comments

Wilma Tomlinson Mcphail

It is called Black Friday because the big revenue that day puts retailers "back into the black", and "out of the red." two terms used in bookkeeping. ,'

Cheryl Perkins

It is an American tradition which is now making its self at home in NZ. Too much American stuff is altering our country for the worse.

Alicia Szot

It's the start of the season of greed...

Alicia Szot

hector tubens, This happens every year. People running to be "the first" in line to get that TV, or toy, or computer....It's disgusting how people behave. Anyone who looks forward to this mass of non-humanity is crazy. People at their worst.

Bryan Carson

Only in the US. Canada has already had Thanksgiving. It was on a Monday. No Black Tuesday.

hector tubens

I've seen scenes on TV of people trampling on top of each other as they rush into the stores on Black Friday when they are about to open.

Keely Anne Williams

Another American thing, we don't have thanksgiving but this has come here to the UK

geemazz

What a waste of space. Another American tradition that we Brits have regrettably taken onboard to make people supposedly feel good in our materialistic world

✨KRISTA✨

I have never participated in "Black Friday". People have been crushed, shot and beat up all at Wal-Mart! Sad really.💔

Roselyn L Prollo

Black Friday is the following thanksgiving day in the United State( the Forth Thursday of November) Since 1932 it has been regarded as the beginning of Christmas shopping season in the U.S and most major retailers open very early(and more recently during overnight hour's) and offer promotional sales.

Player

Cheryl Perkins, same in UK. One if our major supermarkets is currently owned by Walmart, they brought it over but Amazon helped propagate it. Its all capitalism

Debbie Pickstone Charles

Debbie Pickstone Charles, Cancel that last post I accidentally hit send before finishing. What I was going to say is with what is going on in the World right now that will soon be banned!

Debbie Pickstone Charles

With what is going on in the Witjd ri

Irene Townsend

I guess for retailer it would be a black Friday though in saying that they wouldn't lose a lot, if they did they're be out of business. But then I guess for the buyer it would be a Golden Friday, especially if they can get some really good bargins. Depends on what side of the counter you're on.