Black Friday is a term that’s used colloquially to refer to the day after Thanksgiving. It traditionally marks the beginning of the Christmas shopping season in the United States. But how did it start? Here are a few things you should know. Despite its origins, Black Friday is not only a U.S. phenomenon, but also a worldwide one. Learn how it started and how to shop like a pro in this article.
Origins
The origins of Black Friday go back over 145 years, and it has absolutely nothing to do with Christmas shopping. In fact, the term first came to be used in reference to a financial crisis, a crash in the gold market on September 24, 1869. As the stock market began to recover, the phrase became associated with profits. It was then that Black Friday became a slang term. However, the meaning of “black” was shifted to a more positive one.
According to Taylor-Blake’s research, the term first appeared in a newsletter written in 1961 by the police department in Philadelphia, a city which faced huge headaches during both the Army-Navy football game and the holiday shopping season. The phrase was subsequently used to describe the shopping day following Thanksgiving, and Philadelphia police officers began using it to describe the massive traffic congestion that ensued. While the term has changed considerably since its initial use, its origins remain murky.
Origins in the U.K.
Stephen Oppenheimer’s book, Origins in the U.K., is a good start to a discussion on British genetic history. Oppenheimer makes the case that the Celts and Anglo-Saxons had little effect on British genetics, and that their ancestry largely traces back to the ancient Iberian people, whose descendants are now represented by the Basques. The book also points out that the Scandinavian contribution to British genetics is greatly underestimated.
Throughout history, the United Kingdom has made significant contributions to the world economy in various fields. It has been a leader in the fields of science and technology and has a long history of exporting arts and culture, including football. Britain has been called a “cultural superpower” and the capital of the world is London. Many people consider Britain to be one of the most influential countries on earth. In fact, a recent survey found that more than half of all Americans were born in Britain than in any other nation.
Origins in the U.S.
Though the phrase “Black Friday” has become synonymous with madness at the stores, its roots go deeper than that. The first use of the phrase can be traced to the 1869 panic over the price of gold. Those involved in the conspiracy wanted to drive the price up and sell it for astonishing profits. Unfortunately, this plan backfired and the stock market crashed. During the panic, police and merchants worked to keep the crowds out.
The phrase “Black Friday” may have been originally coined by Philadelphia merchants and police in order to describe the day after Thanksgiving when the city experienced heavy traffic and high prices. However, the term eventually spread to other cities and began to be accompanied by a sense of urgency among merchants. By the late 1970s, the term was widely used in the media and was linked to the holiday shopping season.
Origins in France
The concept of Black Friday was first imposed in the U.S. back in the 1970s. It is a sales day intended to kick-start the Christmas shopping period. Its popularity in France has grown as more people turn to online shopping as a way to save money. In France, however, the practice has become more common among physical stores. In fact, last year, around six billion Euros were spent in French stores during Black Friday sales.
The French are slowly embracing the Black Friday custom. Retail giants such as Gap and Cdiscount have been offering huge discounts in their online ads, despite the fear of terror attacks. Some French retailers have resorted to using the term “Jour XXL” instead of the more popular “Black Friday”.
Origins in Europe
In the modern world, Black Friday has become the busiest shopping day of the year. But where did this shopping tradition begin? There is more to the holiday than just big sales. Its origins may surprise future historians. While it is certainly an opportunity to make huge profits in retail, there is also a darker side to the shopping holiday. While some say it helps bring businesses back into the black, others think it brings ruin and disaster.
Black Friday’s origins go back to 1735, when the phrase “Black Monday” was first used in school slang. The word “black” came from the fact that it was the first day of the term’s first term after the summer break. Students were likely thinking about it in an ominous way as they returned to school after a vacation. Many people lost everything they had worked so hard for.