Quote Originally Posted by Karen View Post
The term "black" Friday doesn't have to do do with the crowds or the traffic. It is the beginning of the retail "Christmas" season, where stores make the most profit, so it put them "in the black" (making money) instead of "in the red" - losing money.
It is both, Karen, and originally it was in reference to the heavy pedestrian and vehicle traffic on that day - the start of the holiday shopping season. It originated in Philadelphia in the 60's and spread, and eventually took on it's other meaning of the profit/loss scenario.