The History of Black Friday in a Nutshell

Black Friday is now one of the biggest shopping events in the world, but its beginnings were far less glamorous. The term first appeared in the 19th century, when it described a U.S. stock market crash in 1869. It wasn’t until the 1950s in Philadelphia that the phrase took on its modern meaning, as police used “Black Friday” to describe the heavy traffic and crowded streets the day after Thanksgiving.

By the 1980s, retailers embraced the name and reshaped its story. They promoted the idea that Black Friday was the day stores moved from “the red” into “the black,” thanks to a surge in holiday shopping. Whether myth or marketing, it worked — and Black Friday quickly grew into the year’s biggest retail event.

In the 2000s, early-morning doorbusters and online deals transformed Black Friday into a full shopping weekend, soon joined by Cyber Monday. Today, the event has spread far beyond the U.S., with stores worldwide offering discounts throughout November.

From chaotic crowds to global online sales, Black Friday has evolved into a major moment for shoppers and retailers alike — and the unofficial start of the holiday season.