Black Friday is the informal name for the Friday following Thanksgiving in the United States. It’s widely recognized as the official start of the holiday shopping season, with stores rolling out massive sales, eye-catching promotions, and extended hours. Some even open as early as midnight or, in recent years, on Thanksgiving Day itself.
Since 2005, Black Friday has consistently been the busiest shopping day in the U.S., drawing eager crowds and bargain hunters alike.
The Evolution of Black Friday
Over the years, Black Friday has transformed from a simple shopping day into a full-blown cultural phenomenon. What began as a day of big sales quickly escalated into a high-energy, sometimes chaotic event with packed parking lots, long lines, and shoppers scrambling for the season’s hottest deals.
So, how did Black Friday become the frenzied, over-the-top shopping spectacle we know today?
The shift happened in the 2000s when Black Friday officially overtook the Saturday before Christmas as the year’s biggest shopping day. Retailers amped up their post-Thanksgiving sales, offering deeper discounts and irresistible promotions. Shoppers, eager to snag deals, couldn’t stay away.
Then came 2011, when Walmart broke tradition by kicking off Black Friday sales on Thanksgiving evening. This sparked a trend among other big-box retailers, who quickly followed suit. What was a one-day event has now stretched into a weekend-long shopping extravaganza—dubbed Black Weekend—with some deals lasting through Cyber Monday and beyond.
Black Friday has come a long way, from bustling store aisles to today’s online and in-store shopping mix. It’s no longer just about discounts; it’s a hallmark of the holiday season, blending the thrill of deal-hunting with the joy of giving.
