Black Friday is the name given to the Friday immediately after Thanksgiving in the United States, and it marks the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season, especially Christmas shopping.

What “Black Friday” Means

  • It is a major shopping day when retailers offer big discounts and promotions, both in stores and online.
  • The day is considered one of the busiest shopping days of the year and a key moment for retailers’ holiday sales.

Why It’s Called “Black Friday”

  • One explanation is that it refers to retailers moving from operating “in the red” (loss) to “in the black” (profit) thanks to strong holiday sales.
  • Another historical explanation is that police in cities like Philadelphia used “Black Friday” to describe the heavy traffic and crowded streets caused by post‑Thanksgiving shoppers.

How People Use It Today

  • Shoppers use Black Friday to buy discounted electronics, clothing, toys, and gifts ahead of the December holidays.
  • Many deals now start earlier in the week and continue through the weekend into “Cyber Monday,” which focuses on online discounts.

Information gathered from public data and online references and portrayed here.