Black Friday – a day of shopping

The History and Features of Black Friday in Different Countries

Black Friday is a significant day for retail. Even if its history is somewhat fictional, it remains a crucial day for retail. It is one of the busiest shopping days of the year, setting the tone for the holiday season, which accounts for 20% of annual retail sales. According to the well-known American website The Balance, online purchases on Black Friday in 2016 reached $7.9 billion.

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The History and Significance of Black Friday

A form of Black Friday has existed for over 100 years. In the late 1800s, many stores sponsored Thanksgiving Day parades in the U.S. At the end of the parades, stores opened their doors, marking the start of the holiday shopping season. Although it is impossible to pinpoint the exact year this tradition started, by the early 20th century, retailers typically began their holiday sales immediately after Thanksgiving.

Modern Black Friday emerged in the 1940s. Thanksgiving used to be celebrated on the last Thursday of November. Business leaders asked President Franklin D. Roosevelt to move the holiday back a week to start the holiday shopping season earlier. Roosevelt agreed, and after a few years of confusion, Americans settled on celebrating Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November. This ensured that retailers could always start their holiday sales before December.

Where Did the Name “Black Friday” Come From?

The true origin of “Black Friday” comes from Philadelphia, where the annual Army-Navy football game takes place on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. This caused significant headaches for the police, who had to deal with disruptions and chaos. The problem became so severe that the police started calling it “Black Friday,” a term that retail traders in Philadelphia adopted.

Black Friday in the US got its name due to the influx of shoppers

How Other Countries Celebrate Black Friday

Black Friday has become an extremely popular shopping event in the United States, with people lining up for hours to get the best deals. But besides Americans, many countries have also embraced Black Friday as a way to kick off the holiday shopping season:

  • Canada. Like in the U.S., Black Friday is a huge shopping event in Canada. Many Canadians head south to take advantage of U.S. deals, but there are also many sales in Canada. In recent years, some Canadian retailers have even started offering deals on Cyber Monday, the Monday after American Thanksgiving.
  • United Kingdom. Black Friday is a relatively new phenomenon in Europe, but it has quickly become a major event. Some reports show that Black Friday spending in the UK now exceeds that in the U.S. Many British retailers offer discounts both in-store and online, leading to some controversy due to the large crowds and chaos it can cause.
  • Mexico. Although Thanksgiving is not celebrated in Mexico, many retailers still offer Black Friday sales to attract customers. In recent years, some Mexican retailers have extended the shopping holidays through the entire weekend, offering significant discounts on everything from electronics to clothing.
  • Australia. Black Friday is not as widely celebrated in Australia as in other countries, but some stores have begun offering discounts in recent years. However, many Australians still prefer to shop during the holiday season in December rather than November.
  • China. China has its own shopping holiday called “Singles’ Day,” celebrated on November 11. However, recently some Chinese retailers have also started holding Black Friday sales to attract foreign shoppers. In fact, in 2019, Chinese consumers spent over $38 billion on Singles’ Day and Black Friday combined.

As we can see, Black Friday has indeed become a global shopping event. Whether you are in North America, Asia, or Europe, there are many deals to be found on this popular shopping holiday.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which operators promote Black Friday worldwide? 

Major operators of the discount day include well-known online stores such as eBay, Walmart, and Amazon.

Are there other days when shoppers make as many or more purchases? 

The tradition of Black Friday is unprecedented, and given its international reach, more items are purchased on this day than any other.

What is the record purchase amount in financial terms on Black Friday? 

According to techcrunch.com, shoppers worldwide spent $70.9 billion on Black Friday in 2023.

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Steve Davey is the chief editor and author of the English-language section at our portal. With a keen eye for compelling topics in American media, Steve not only shares his insights but also occasionally translates them for our audience. His expertise in uncovering engaging stories and his editorial skills contribute significantly to the richness of our content.

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