Where does the term “black Friday” come from?
Black Friday has its origins in the United States and has historical, economic and social backgrounds. Here are the most important aspects of the origin:
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Name and Context : The term “Black Friday” was first used in Philadelphia in the 1950s. Police officers used the term to describe the massive traffic chaos and crowds that occurred on the day after Thanksgiving, when people went shopping in droves for the holidays.
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Economic Significance : In the 1980s, Black Friday took on a more positive connotation. Stores began to associate it with the period when they finally went “into the black,” meaning they made a profit (accounting terms: black ink for profit, red ink for loss). It became a marketing opportunity and a symbol of the start of the Christmas season.
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Tradition and Consumerism : The idea of a bargain day just after Thanksgiving became more popular as stores started offering big discounts to attract customers. This tradition grew into a national (and later international) bargain day.
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