Why Is The Day After American Thanksgiving Called Black Friday: The Real Reason

Okay, let's dish. We all know Black Friday. It's a thing. A BIG thing. The day after Thanksgiving. The one where we all lose our minds for deals. But seriously, why is it called Black Friday?

It sounds… intense, right? Like something bad happened. Maybe a turkey uprising? Or perhaps a giant cranberry sauce tsunami? Nope. The real story is way more interesting. And a little less sticky.

It's Not About the Color of Your Bank Account

So, first off, let's bust a myth. It's NOT because everyone's wallets go black from spending too much money. Though, let's be honest, that can happen. But that’s not the origin.

The original reason is actually a bit… grumpy. Like, Philly grumpy.

The Grumpy Philadelphians

Picture this: It's the 1950s or 60s. Philadelphia police. They're dealing with a mess. Thanksgiving Day had this big parade. The one that's still a tradition today. But the day after the parade? That was chaos.

Shoppers would flood the city. Trying to get a head start on Christmas shopping. And the police? They had to deal with the traffic jams. The crowds. The general mayhem. It was a nightmare for them.

Why Is The Shopping Day After Thanksgiving Called 'Black Friday

They hated it.

They literally started calling the day after Thanksgiving "Black Friday." Because it was a day of traffic, crowding, and general ugliness. For them. Not for the shoppers, who were probably having a blast.

Think of it as their unofficial, very honest, Yelp review of the post-Thanksgiving shopping frenzy. "One star. Would not recommend. Too many people. Too much noise."

A Little Bit of Accounting Magic

Now, here's where it gets a little more… business-y. But don't worry, it's still fun!

Why the Day After Thanksgiving is Called "Black Friday"

For businesses, accounting used to be done by hand. Imagine that! Accountants would track their profits and losses. In big, fat, red ink. When they were losing money. And in glorious, black ink. When they were making money.

Cha-ching!

So, the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas? That's usually a HUGE time for retailers. People are buying gifts. Lots of gifts. This is when many businesses would finally get out of the red and into the black for the year.

Black Friday, being the official kick-off to this super-spending season, became known as the day when their books would officially turn black. From a year of potential losses to a year of profits. It’s like the financial finish line!

When Did the Name Stick?

It took a while for "Black Friday" to catch on nationwide. For years, it was mostly a Philly thing. Then, the merchants in Philly, bless their hearts, started to embrace the name.

[ANSWERED] 7 The day after Thanksgiving called Black Friday is one of

They tried to spin it. "Hey, it's Black Friday! Come on down! It's a good black!" It’s like trying to make a nickname cool when it started as an insult. A true marketing comeback story.

From Grumpy to Glorious

Slowly, other cities and businesses adopted the term. Especially as Black Friday became this enormous shopping event. The deals got crazier. The crowds got bigger. And everyone started talking about it.

So, that grumpy police term? It eventually morphed into a name associated with… well, us. The shoppers. The deal-seekers. The ones who bravely venture out.

Why is the Day After Thanksgiving Called ‘Black Friday?’

The "Real Reason" is a Mix!

So, the real reason for Black Friday is a bit of a combo platter. It started with frustrated cops in Philadelphia dealing with a chaotic day. And it evolved to describe the financially profitable "black ink" period for retailers.

It's funny, isn't it? How a negative term can be rebranded. And become this global phenomenon of consumerism. A day eagerly anticipated by millions.

Quirky, Right?

Think about it. We're all heading out on this day. Driven by the promise of deals. And the name itself has a history of… well, not being that thrilled about us. It’s a bit of a delightful irony.

It's a reminder that even the most popular traditions have quirky beginnings. And sometimes, the most fun things have the most unexpected origins. So next time you're battling for that last TV, remember the Philly cops. And the accountants. And then go get that deal!