When Thanksgiving ends and the holiday decorations go up, one day marks the start of what’s become a major shopping weekend: Black Friday. Known for its big bargains and crowds of eager shoppers, Black Friday has become a major part of holiday traditions and a crucial day for retailers. But Black Friday wasn’t always the event it is today, and its origins and evolution tell an interesting story of consumer culture and retail innovation.
The Origins of Black Friday: Where It All Began
The term "Black Friday" first appeared in a much different context than holiday shopping. In the 19th century, it referred to September 24, 1869, when a financial crisis hit the United States as two investors tried to corner the gold market, causing prices to plummet and creating widespread panic. However, the Black Friday that we know today took shape much later.
By the 1950s and 1960s, Black Friday began to take on a new meaning, first in Philadelphia, where police coined the term to describe the chaos that descended on the city the day after Thanksgiving. On this day, a flood of tourists would come into Philadelphia for the annual Army-Navy football game, causing massive traffic jams and crowding stores and restaurants. Philadelphia police used “Black Friday” to describe this troublesome day.
While the name might have started with negative connotations, retailers quickly saw its potential. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, the term gradually shifted to signify a day when stores offered major sales to kick off the holiday shopping season. By the 1980s, the concept of Black Friday as a major shopping event was embraced nationwide. Retailers rebranded it as the day when stores would "go into the black"—meaning profits surged into positive territory.
Black Friday’s Rise to Prominence
As Black Friday grew in popularity, retailers began opening earlier to accommodate the crowds. What was once a morning rush turned into all-night affairs, with stores opening as early as midnight. Retailers used doorbuster deals to draw in customers and started crafting a culture of limited-time offers and deep discounts that created a sense of urgency among shoppers.
Over the years, these early-bird sales and deals became more extreme, with some customers camping outside stores days in advance. Despite the controversies over extreme crowds and occasional safety concerns, the allure of Black Friday deals continued to grow, making it the busiest shopping day of the year in the United States. The tradition spread to Canada, the UK, and even parts of Europe as retailers around the world adopted the practice of post-Thanksgiving sales to boost their holiday revenues.
The Digital Age and the Birth of Cyber Monday
As technology advanced and more people began shopping online, Black Friday evolved to include its digital counterpart: Cyber Monday. In 2005, the National Retail Federation coined the term “Cyber Monday” as a way to encourage people to shop online after the Black Friday weekend. At that time, the idea of online shopping was still novel, and retailers wanted to find a way to keep the post-Thanksgiving shopping momentum going even after the weekend.
Cyber Monday was marketed as a day when people could shop from the comfort of their own homes, avoiding the Black Friday crowds. This was especially appealing for those who preferred to browse deals online rather than fight through busy stores. Since its inception, Cyber Monday has grown tremendously, and it’s often the biggest online shopping day of the year, offering exclusive online discounts on everything from electronics to fashion.
Giving Tuesday: A New Tradition of Generosity
Amid all the sales and spending, another movement took shape: Giving Tuesday. Launched in 2012 by the 92nd Street Y and the United Nations Foundation, Giving Tuesday encourages people to give back to their communities and support charities as part of the holiday season. It’s positioned as a response to the consumerism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, highlighting a spirit of generosity instead.
Giving Tuesday falls on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving and focuses on donations and acts of kindness rather than consumer spending. It has grown quickly, with people from all over the world participating through donations, volunteering, and various charitable initiatives. While Black Friday and Cyber Monday are about getting deals, Giving Tuesday is about giving back, helping create a more balanced holiday season focused not just on shopping but also on generosity.
How Black Friday and Cyber Monday Have Evolved
The Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping experience has changed significantly over the years. Now, Black Friday no longer strictly takes place on Friday—some retailers start their deals as early as the Monday of Thanksgiving week, turning the event into a week-long or even month-long shopping spree known as “Black November.”
With the rise of e-commerce giants like Amazon, online deals have become as significant, if not more so, than in-store promotions. Many retailers now combine Black Friday and Cyber Monday into a single weekend event, offering discounts both online and in-store.
Meanwhile, the global appeal of Black Friday has only increased. Retailers worldwide now participate in Black Friday sales, adapting the tradition to their own markets and finding ways to attract customers in their regions.
The Ethical Side of Black Friday
As the event has grown, so too has the conversation around the ethics of Black Friday and its impact on consumer culture and the environment. Some people criticize Black Friday for promoting overconsumption and waste. Others have noted the effects on workers, who may face long hours, heavy crowds, and even safety risks due to the demand of managing high volumes of eager shoppers. In response, some companies have made a shift toward “conscious consumerism,” promoting deals that emphasize sustainable and ethical products.
Alternative events, like Small Business Saturday, encourage shoppers to support local businesses instead of large corporations. First observed in 2010, Small Business Saturday takes place on the Saturday after Thanksgiving and aims to highlight the importance of supporting small, local shops as part of the holiday season.
The Future of Black Friday and Cyber Monday
Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Giving Tuesday have all evolved in response to changing technology and consumer behavior. The rise of mobile shopping, improvements in online security, and the ease of comparison shopping have all contributed to making these shopping events more accessible and dynamic.
For Black Friday and Cyber Monday, technology continues to drive change. Retailers are using AI-driven marketing strategies to offer personalized deals, and the convenience of one-click purchases means people can score deals faster than ever. The trend toward early holiday shopping has also taken hold, with more people planning and budgeting well in advance to take advantage of Black Friday and Cyber Monday discounts.
Meanwhile, Giving Tuesday is likely to continue growing as more people look for ways to incorporate acts of kindness into the holiday season. With its emphasis on social media campaigns and online donations, Giving Tuesday aligns with the digital-savvy habits of today’s consumers, making it easy to spread awareness and encourage charitable giving.
In Summary
From its early beginnings as a chaotic shopping day to its current form as a global event spanning both physical stores and digital platforms, Black Friday has become an integral part of holiday culture. The addition of Cyber Monday and Giving Tuesday further reflects the diversity of holiday traditions, giving consumers the opportunity to not only find great deals but also support their communities and give back.
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