11 Surprising Things You Didn’t Know About Black Friday

For shoppers and bargain hunters, Black Friday is one of the most highly anticipated days of the year. While we all know about the big sales and deals happening on this date, there’s more to Black Friday than meets the eye! 

1. Black Friday wasn’t always about shopping 

Black Friday is synonymous with shopping, Thanksgiving, and great deals. However, that wasn’t always the case. 

The original term “Black Friday” referred to September 24, 1869. That was the day the U.S. gold market crashed, marking one of the darkest financial days in U.S. history. Because September 24 was a Friday, it was named “black” Friday. 

Nearly a century later, in the 1950s, factory managers referred to the Friday after Thanksgiving as “black” Friday because so many workers called in sick. Additionally, traffic cops in Philadelphia also referred to the Friday after Thanksgiving as Black Friday because it was one of the longest and most demanding workdays of the year, thanks to the unusual amount of traffic on the roads. 

It wasn’t until the 1980s that Black Friday became what we know it today — the biggest shopping day of the year. 

2. The first retail Black Friday wasn’t until the 1960s 

While Black Friday became commonplace in the 1980s, the first retail Black Friday was in 1961 in Philadelphia. It was initially referred to as Big Friday, since “black” had become synonymous with financial ruin and hardship. 

Given its unfortunate history, many rumors exist about why merchants and shopping centers started using “black” to define Black Friday. The most common story is that until Thanksgiving, most shops and retailers were operating at a financial loss for the year. In the days of handwritten accounting ledgers, bookkeepers recorded losses in red ink and profits in black ink. 

The Friday after Thanksgiving marked the first day when people would begin Christmas shopping, stores would turn a profit, and financial ledger entries were written in black ink. Now you know why the phrase “in the black” means a business is profitable! 

3. Some stores start Black Friday deals before Thanksgiving 

Black Friday took the world by storm in the 1980s, and it’s been one of the biggest shopping days of the year ever since. However, some stores have begun taking advantage of the hype around Black Friday and start before Thanksgiving. 

Major retailers, including Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and others, start their online and in-store deals as early as October. 

4. It’s not the biggest shopping day of the year 

Black Friday has been the biggest shopping day of the year for nearly half a century, but its reign may be ending as another major shopping day threatens to overtake it.

In recent years, “Super Saturday” has surpassed Black Friday as the hottest shopping day of the year. Super Saturday is the last Saturday before Christmas and marks one of the last days to buy gifts for loved ones. 

Super Saturday is a big shopping day for last-minute shoppers, while Black Friday remains popular among serious bargain hunters. On either day you can expect big crowds and terrible traffic! 

5. Cyber Monday is gaining on Black Friday 

If you’re not a fan of the crowds and traffic mentioned above, then Cyber Monday is your shopping day. Cyber Monday falls on the Monday after Thanksgiving and is the online equivalent of Black Friday. 

Thanks mainly to its convenience, Cyber Monday threatens to overtake Black Friday as the biggest shopping day. 

In 2023, consumers reportedly spent $11.3 billion on Cyber Monday, compared to a little over $9 billion on Black Friday! 

Because the two days are so competitive, retailers often feature sales on different items. For instance, Black Friday is the best day to buy electronics and appliances, whereas Cyber Monday has better deals on shoes, clothing, toys, and similar items. 

6. Some of the best deals aren’t on Black Friday 

While Cyber Monday and Super Saturday are gaining popularity, Black Friday is still synonymous with the best shopping deals. However, even for participating stores, some of their best deals aren’t offered on Black Friday! 

In fact, you can find comparable (or even better) deals on Presidents’ Day, Labor Day Weekend, Memorial Day Weekend, Amazon Prime Day, and during the post-Christmas clearance. Deals will vary from item to item and store to store, but it’s worth checking out if you’re hunting for bargains. 

7. You can stay home and shop 

Would you rather do your Black Friday shopping from home without waiting until Cyber Monday? If so, you’re in luck, because more and more retailers offer online Black Friday deals. 

While Amazon is the most popular option for Black Friday online shopping, it’s not the only one. Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and other popular retailers are now offering in-store Black Friday deals online. 

Shopping online is a great way to avoid the stress and hassle of in-store shopping on the year's busiest shopping day. It’s also a good option for introverts like me who’d rather spend an hour at the dentist than be surrounded by thousands of people with no personal space! 

8. Black Friday is a global event 

As Americans, it’s easy to think that Black Friday is exclusive to the United States. While it originated in the U.S., Black Friday is a global phenomenon celebrated by dozens of countries worldwide. 

If you’re celebrating Thanksgiving outside of the States, here are some of the countries where you can participate in Black Friday shopping: 

• Canada 
• Italy 
• United Kingdom 
• France 
• Germany 
• Australia 
• Ireland 
• Poland 
• Greece 
• New Zealand 
• Brazil 
• Israel 
• Iran 
• Spain 
• India 
• Sweden 
• Norway 

While other countries may also celebrate Black Friday, these are some of the largest and most prominent. 

9. Not all Black Friday deals are really deals 

While there’s no shortage of great deals on Black Friday, it’s important to be cautious about what you buy. Certain items will be labeled as “discounted” or “on sale” when they actually aren’t much of a deal. 

Stores also play mind games with you by inflating prices on certain items before Black Friday. Then, when they “reduce” the price for the Black Friday sale, they’re just reducing it to the original selling price, rather than selling it at a discount. 

Another psychological trick retailers use is listing items as “limited stock” or “on a countdown,” implying that you might miss out if you don’t buy it now. It’s important to research ahead of time and be prepared to say no to these tactics when shopping on Black Friday. 

10. You can return items bought on Black Friday 

Although stores may change the prices on some items for Black Friday, their return policy remains the same. Whether you purchase clothing, electronics, toys, or other items, the same return policy typically applies to these items as any other time of year. 

However, stores can limit returns on certain items and label them a Black Friday Special. You should always check the return policy on specific items before purchasing them to ensure you can return them later if necessary. 

11. Small businesses are getting in on the action 

Traditionally, Black Friday has been the domain of big businesses and retailers, such as Target, Best Buy, Lowes, Walmart, and other well-known names. But small businesses have carved out their own version of Black Friday: Small Business Saturday. 

While the deals typically aren’t quite as crazy with small businesses because they have smaller profit margins, they’re good deals, nonetheless. Additionally, even though you might not see huge savings, shopping at small businesses on Small Business Saturday is a great way to support and grow your local community. 

The future of Black Friday shopping 

Undoubtedly, traditional brick-and-mortar stores are still the leaders of Black Friday shopping. Between the rise in popularity of the internet and a love of convenience, however, it isn’t difficult to imagine that online shopping is the future of Black Friday. 

In the same way that app-based personal shoppers, AI-driven recommendations, and personalized deals have become extremely popular, online shopping has taken the world by storm. In-person shopping simply can’t compare with the ease and convenience it offers! 

If you’re serious about saving money while shopping, it’s important to shop smart, research, and remind yourself that deals are everywhere. Also, remember that while Black Friday is a popular shopping day, it’s not the only day to find great deals and discounts!