Black Friday Sale

Black Friday Sale

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“Black Friday” can refer to two main things: the major shopping holiday and its historical origin. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown.

1. The Shopping Event (Modern Meaning)

This is the most common meaning today. Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving in the United States, marking the unofficial beginning of the holiday shopping season.

Key Characteristics:

  • Massive Discounts: Retailers offer significant sales and doorbuster deals on a wide range of products, especially electronics, toys, and appliances.

  • Extreme Crowds: It is notorious for large, intense crowds of shoppers, often leading to long lines and, in the past, occasional incidents of chaos.

  • Early Openings: Many stores open very early (like 5 AM) or even on Thanksgiving evening to kick off the sales.

  • Online Expansion: What was once an in-store event has now become a major online shopping day as well, often extending into a “Black Friday Week” or even the entire month of November.

Why is it called “Black Friday”? (The Myth)
A common myth is that the term comes from an accounting practice: retailers operate at a loss (“in the red”) for most of the year and finally turn a profit (“in the black”) on this day due to the massive sales. While this is a nice story and has become a useful explanation, it is not the true origin of the name.

2. The Historical Origin of the Name

The term “Black Friday” originated in Philadelphia in the 1950s or early 1960s. It was used by police to describe the chaos and disruption that resulted from the large crowds of tourists and shoppers coming to the city on the day after Thanksgiving.

  • It was a negative term used to describe the terrible traffic jams, overcrowded sidewalks, and the strain it placed on police forces, who had to work long shifts to manage the chaos.

  • The word “black” was used in the sense of a dark, difficult, or disastrous day (similar to “Black Tuesday” for the stock market crash).

Retailers later tried to rebrand the day to something more positive, which is when the “red to black” accounting story was popularized.

3. Related Shopping Days

Black Friday has spawned an entire “shopping holiday” ecosystem:

  • Cyber Monday: The Monday after Black Friday, focused on online deals. This has now largely merged with Black Friday.

  • Small Business Saturday: The Saturday after Thanksgiving, encouraging people to shop at local, small businesses.

  • Giving Tuesday: The Tuesday after Cyber Monday, a global day dedicated to charity and giving back.

  • Key Takeaways for a User:

    • When is it? The Friday after U.S. Thanksgiving (which is the fourth Thursday of November).

    • What is it? A day of huge sales and the start of the holiday shopping season.

    • What does “Black” mean? Historically, it referred to a chaotic and difficult day for police in Philadelphia. The popular “in the black” profit story is a later, sanitized myth.

    Would you like to know about strategies for finding the best deals or how Black Friday works in other countries?

happy-thanksgiving-day

Happy Thanksgiving Day

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The Basics

  • What it is: A national holiday in the United States dedicated to giving thanks for the harvest of the preceding year and for the blessings of the past year.

  • When: It is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November.

  • Significance: It is one of the most important and widely celebrated holidays in the U.S., known for its focus on family, food, and gratitude.

Key Traditions and Customs

1.The Thanksgiving Meal: The centerpiece of the celebration is a large, festive meal, typically enjoyed in the afternoon or evening.

  • The Main Course: Roasted turkey is the traditional centerpiece.
  • Classic Side Dishes: Stuffing (or dressing), mashed potatoes with gravy, sweet potato casseroles (often with marshmallows on top), green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, and dinner rolls.
  • Dessert: Pumpkin pie, pecan pie, and apple pie are the most traditional desserts.

2.Gathering with Family and Friends: For many, Thanksgiving is the most important family holiday of the year. People often travel long distances to be with loved ones, making it the busiest travel period in the U.S.

3.Expressing Gratitude: It’s common for families to go around the table before or during the meal and share what they are thankful for.

4.Watching American Football: Football is a major part of the day for many. The NFL traditionally holds multiple games on Thanksgiving Day.

In essence, Thanksgiving in the U.S. is a complex holiday—a blend of historical myth, a heartfelt celebration of gratitude, a massive culinary event, and the starting gun for the winter holiday season.