"Black" Friday

[pomtzu]

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.

[Karen]

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.

I heard a story today on NPR - Black Friday was a term in the 1950s - when factory managers called it "black friday" because so many people called in "sick" that day, they compared it to the "black death" - a.k.a. the bubonic plague. Then in the 1960s, it was adopted by the Philadelphia police as you mentioned, the 1970s it became the financial meaning I mentioned, and in the 1980s it transformed into the shopping event it is now, and was adopted by retailers as a positive connotation and name for sales.

So we were both wrong as to how it originated, and both right in a way, we just didn't know about the first usage!

[Marigold2]

Oh I love love love Black Friday. I got up at 3:00 am got to the dollar store at 4:00, stood in line for two hours.
Got great deals, they marked these items down to .99 pencils, chalk, sponges, paperclips.
My Christmas shopping is almost done.
99 cents, whoa baby......

[snakemama]

I love Black Friday shopping! One of my favorite things to do is go to the "Midnight madness" sale at the outlet malls nearby. Alas, I had to work today so I skipped it. The local humane society has a holiday craft fair every year around thsi time, so I'll just hang onto my shopping money until then!

[lizbud]

Oh I love love love Black Friday. I got up at 3:00 am got to the dollar store at 4:00, stood in line for two hours.
Got great deals, they marked these items down to .99 pencils, chalk, sponges, paperclips.
My Christmas shopping is almost done.
99 cents, whoa baby......

Marked down Dollar store stuff to .99 cents, WOW, what a bargain.

[pomtzu]

Oh I love love love Black Friday. I got up at 3:00 am got to the dollar store at 4:00, stood in line for two hours.
Got great deals, they marked these items down to .99 pencils, chalk, sponges, paperclips.
My Christmas shopping is almost done.
99 cents, whoa baby......

I seriously hope that this is a joke.........

[pomtzu]

I heard a story today on NPR - Black Friday was a term in the 1950s - when factory managers called it "black friday" because so many people called in "sick" that day, they compared it to the "black death" - a.k.a. the bubonic plague.

I never heard of that one and it looks like Wikipedia hasn't either. Maybe you should send it to them so they can update.

Out of curiosity, I did a search to see how many others showed up, and I only found reference to this "plague" in one article. It seems that someone in the very early 50's, published an article in Factory Management and Maintenance magazine on the subject of worker absenteeism, and the day after Thanksgiving was mentioned. The subject appeared to die off until the Philadelphia use of it kicked in, in the 60's.

So who knows??? All I know is that it's a day for me to stay home and do any shopping I might want to do, on line.

There were other meanings applied to BF also, one being that after the Civil War, that blacks were allowed to shop in retail establishments on Friday only, but of course that would have absolutely nothing to do with the current holiday shopping meaning. I'm certain that there's plenty more out there that nobody ever heard of too.

[Grace]

Black Friday, indeed. Makes us look like a bunch of barbarians to the rest of the world.


Black Friday

[phesina]

Black Friday, indeed. Makes us look like a bunch of barbarians to the rest of the world.


Black Friday

Yes indeed, the season of peace, love, and good cheer is here!

[chocolatepuppy]

Whew, no way, just look at all those people! I stayed home except for a walk! I found this on FB.

[sparks19]

I did not go out. Not my thing. Afriends hubby went to walmart and waited for hours gor an xbox with kinect for $199. I stayed home and got an xbox with kinect for $199 plus a $50 credit (xbox 360 with kinect is normally $300+). No crowds no lines no getting up early or staying up all night. Pj's, coffee and the computer were all i needed lol