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Black Friday 2022: Why is it called Black Friday? All you need to know about the date, history and significance

Updated on: Nov 25, 2022, 09:07:26 IST
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A Black Friday sale sign is seen at a shopping mall in the US. (REUTERS)
A Black Friday sale sign is seen at a shopping mall in the US. (REUTERS)

Black Friday 2022: Black Friday is right around the corner. Here's all you need to know about this day's history, significance, date and meaning.

Black Friday is observed a day after the United States Of America celebrates Thanksgiving. Earlier, the day was only observed in the USA. However, now everyone else around the world marks Black Friday. On this day, Turkey-stuffed shoppers raid online and offline stores to do holiday shopping in the hopes of getting great deals and the best discounts on various items. Generally, stores open very early on Black Friday, sometimes as early as midnight or on Thanksgiving, to present great offers and attract many customers. But why is this day called Black Friday? Keep scrolling to know Black Friday's history, significance, date, and all you need to know.

Black Friday 2022 Date:

Black Friday is marked on the day after Thanksgiving in the United States of America. This year, Black Friday falls on November 25.

Why is it called Black Friday? Black Friday 2022 History and Significance:

As we enter the week leading up to Thanksgiving, stores, online shopping platforms and big brands bombard us with ads about the Black Friday sale. And there is a chance you must have shopped at least once in your life during the Black Friday sale. But where exactly did the term originate?

There are many myths surrounding the origin of Black Friday. Many believe Black Friday got its name because retail shoppers get heavy discounts and stop recording losses. Since losses get registered in red and profits in black, people believed that great deals lead to them gaining high profits. (Also Read | Thanksgiving 2022: 3 easy Thanksgiving activities you can plan with your kids)

However, this is not the case. Instead, Black Friday got its name from the Philadelphia police. According to reports, Black Friday isn't related to shopping at all. In the 1950s, the police forces in Philadelphia used the term Black Friday to describe the chaos on the day after Thanksgiving. At that time, hundreds of suburban tourists would pack into the city for the football game and cause a headache for the forces.

At that time, many city retailers also used the term for long queues outside their stores and shopping madness. In 1961, business owners tried to name the day "Big Friday". However, it was never successful. The term gained popularity all over America in 1985. And after 2013, Black Friday was globally embraced.

On Black Friday, shoppers rush to take full advantage of bargain shopping before Christmas and New Year holidays. Some stores start giving discounts to customers even on the day of Thanksgiving. As for online shoppers, they don't even have to wait until midnight to begin shopping.

  • Krishna Pallavi Priya
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Krishna Pallavi Priya

    Krishna Priya Pallavi is a journalist with over 9 years of experience, covering health, fashion, pop culture, travel, wellness, entertainment, festivals, mental health, art, decor, fitness, and sex and relationships. She is an alumna of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Dhenkanal, and holds an undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi. Her strong academic foundation informs her analytical and detail-oriented approach to storytelling, helping her uncover stories where none seem to exist. Before joining Hindustan Times, Pallavi worked with some of India’s leading media organisations. She spent close to three years at India Today, where she honed her newsroom skills and developed a sharp editorial sensibility. She also worked for over a year and a half at Vagabomb, ScoopWhoop’s feminist digital platform, where she explored stories through a gender-sensitive, socially aware lens. Pallavi has a deep interest in global fashion trends and international fashion seasons, and enjoys interviewing celebrities and tracking pop culture movements—interests that frequently translate into engaging, reader-friendly stories. Alongside lifestyle and entertainment, she has a keen eye for impactful health and wellness journalism, regularly interacting with doctors, designers, and digital content creators to bring nuance and credibility to her work. Born and raised in Haryana, Pallavi remains deeply connected to her ancestral roots in Odisha. Her ability to spot fresh angles brings curiosity and depth to stories she pursues. When not chasing deadlines, she enjoys spending time with her dog, planning her next vacation, reading, running new trails, and discovering new destinations.Read More

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