What Black Friday Means in the United States
Black Friday is the informal name for the day after Thanksgiving in the United States, which falls on the Friday following the fourth Thursday in November. It is widely regarded as the traditional start of the holiday shopping season and is best known for steep discounts, early-morning store openings, and crowds of shoppers seeking bargains on gifts and household goods. Although it is not a federal holiday, many Americans have the day off because Thanksgiving is a federal holiday, giving the date a distinctive place in the national calendar.
Origins
The precise origin of the term "Black Friday" is debated, but the most commonly cited explanation ties it to Philadelphia in the 1950s and 1960s. Police and traffic officials there reportedly used the phrase to describe the congestion caused by the large numbers of shoppers and visitors arriving in the city for the post-Thanksgiving sales and the traditional Army-Navy football game held that weekend. The label spread gradually through the region and then nationally.
A separate, popular folk etymology holds that the day is called "Black Friday" because retailers operate "in the black" (profitable) rather than "in the red" (at a loss) on that day. This explanation became a common marketing narrative, though it is generally considered a later reinterpretation rather than the phrase's true origin.
Over the twentieth century, the day after Thanksgiving became established as the unofficial launch of the Christmas shopping season, a status reinforced by retailers' advertising and, in some years, by the timing of holiday promotions.
Customs and Traditions
- Doorbuster sales: Retailers advertise limited-quantity, deeply discounted items and open stores very early, sometimes at midnight or on Thanksgiving evening itself.
- Early-morning queues: Shoppers traditionally line up outside stores before opening to secure the best deals.
- Doorbuster "door prizes" and coupons: Printed circulars and, later, online ads announce the day's specials in advance.
- Family activity: For many households, shopping together on the day after Thanksgiving is a shared ritual, often combined with decorating for Christmas.
- Online counterpart: The rise of e-commerce produced "Cyber Monday," the Monday after Thanksgiving, as an online-focused companion to Black Friday.
Food and Drink
Black Friday has no traditional menu of its own. Because it immediately follows Thanksgiving, many Americans continue to eat Thanksgiving leftovers—turkey, stuffing, and pies—on that day. Food courts, cafeterias, and restaurants in and around shopping centers tend to be busy, and coffee and other hot drinks are commonly consumed by early shoppers waiting in line or navigating crowds. Beyond these general patterns, there is no distinct Black Friday cuisine.
Religious and Civic Observances
Black Friday is a commercial rather than a religious or civic holiday. It is not marked by church services, government ceremonies, or official observances. Some religious and community groups have used the day for alternative or reflective purposes, and some organizations promote "Buy Nothing Day" as a counterpoint to consumerism, but these are not mainstream national traditions. The day's civic significance is largely economic: it is watched as an indicator of consumer confidence and holiday spending.
Public Festivities
Public festivities associated with Black Friday are mostly commercial and informal rather than organized civic events. The day's public character comes from the spectacle of crowded stores, long lines, and media coverage of shopping totals and notable bargains. In some cities, the day coincides with holiday parades, tree-lighting ceremonies, and the opening of seasonal attractions, which add to the festive atmosphere around shopping districts. The Army-Navy football game, historically played on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, is part of the same holiday weekend in some years and contributed to the early Philadelphia crowds that gave the day its name.
Regional Variations
Black Friday is observed nationwide, but its character varies by region and community. In large metropolitan areas and major retail corridors, crowds and traffic are heaviest, while in smaller towns and rural areas the day is often calmer and centered on local shops and main-street promotions. The Philadelphia-area origin of the term means the day has long been especially prominent there. Some states and localities have at times restricted or discouraged Thanksgiving Day store openings, which can shift the timing of Black Friday sales. Overall, the day is a national phenomenon with local differences in scale and style rather than distinct regional traditions.
Significance
Black Friday occupies a unique place in American culture as a blend of holiday weekend, shopping ritual, and economic bellwether. While it is not a holiday in the legal sense, it shapes retail calendars, media coverage, and family routines across the country each November.