The Origin of Black Friday: How It Started and Why It Takes Place in November

Black Friday is one of the most influential shopping events of the year and marks the unofficial start of the holiday retail season in the United States. Despite the popular belief that its name comes from retailers moving “into the black” financially, the story is far more complex—and rooted in mid-20th-century Philadelphia.

A Local Frenzy That Became a Retail Tradition

In the 1950s, the days following Thanksgiving brought thousands of suburban shoppers into Philadelphia. Visitors came for early holiday sales, festive decorations, and the highly anticipated annual Army–Navy football game, held on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

The influx of people caused severe congestion, crowded sidewalks, and long lines inside stores. According to Bonnie Taylor-Blake, a neuroscience researcher at the University of North Carolina, traffic officers were forced to work 12-hour shifts to control the chaos. Police officers began informally referring to the day as “Black Friday,” a term that local merchants quickly adopted to describe the overwhelming crowds.

A Failed Rebranding and the Retail Adoption of Black Friday

In 1961, there was an attempt to rebrand the day as “Big Friday” to avoid negative connotations. The effort failed—shoppers and retailers had already embraced the original name.

Over time, retailers realized the commercial potential behind the attention Black Friday generated. What began as a disruptive post-holiday rush evolved into a powerful sales strategy supported by deep discounts, promotional campaigns, and extended store hours.

Black Friday Becomes the Most Profitable Shopping Day

By 2003, major chains like Kmart, Walmart, and Sears pushed opening hours earlier than ever, launching doorbuster sales at 5 a.m. or 6 a.m. That same year, Black Friday became the most profitable shopping day of the year in the U.S., surpassing the typical late-December rush.

In 2011, Walmart advanced the trend by opening its stores at 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving night, turning Black Friday into a continuous shopping marathon.

The Digital Era and the Rise of Cyber Monday

The growth of online retail created another major shopping holiday: Cyber Monday, introduced in 2005 by the National Retail Federation. Designed to mirror the Black Friday frenzy—but online—it has quickly become one of the biggest e-commerce events worldwide.

Why Black Friday Still Matters for Businesses

Consumer research shows that shoppers consistently prioritize:

• Strong discounts and real savings

• Free shipping

• Convenience, whether in-store or online

For businesses—both brick-and-mortar and digital—Black Friday remains a key opportunity to:

• Acquire new customers

• Clear inventory

• Boost in-store and website traffic

• Increase revenue ahead of the holiday season

In an increasingly competitive retail landscape, brands that optimize pricing, logistics, and the customer experience stand out during this high-stakes shopping period.