Why is it Called 'Black Friday?'

A curious Patch reader asks, "Why is Black Friday called Black Friday?"

The term "Black Friday" conjures up dark images of dread, and at one time the shopping term did have a bad meaning. But it has evolved into a term of joy for businesses and the economy.

In the 1960s, the day after Thanksgiving in Philadelphia -- a city not designed for shopping explosions -- caused massive crowding in stores, suffocating mobs on the sidewalks and intense traffic jams. The rise of Thanksgiving parades in cities had served as both an advertising coup for stores as well as an injection of consumer spending the next day. In Philadelphia, police nicknamed the day "Black Friday" because they dreaded the chaos so much. Over the years the term spread and started representing shopping in general the day after Thanksgiving.

Then in the 1970s, the previously booming economy hit a slump and many retailers found themselves in financial trouble. But despite the economic downturn, shoppers were still flooding the department stores and relatively new shopping malls. So on this day, many retailers saw such a boost in sales that their losses throughout the year were compensated and they were making profits, or "in the black."

Retailers liked this latest definition of the term best, since obviously it put a pleasant spin on the term and was less likely to turn off customers to spending on that day. Retailers offered massive savings -- now called "door-busters" -- to drive people to their stores on that day. So from the 1980s onward, the term "Black Friday" has been used in  good way by retailers. Of course, store employees, cab drivers and police probably still use the term pejoratively.

Today, Black Friday remains one of the busiest shopping days of the year and still drives millions to the stores. Modern Black Friday is even more intense, with stores opening as early as midnight and crowds lining up for hours to rush in and grab hold of bargains.

And in the digital age, Black Friday has been followed by "Cyber Monday," when stores offer deals for customers to shop online the Monday after Thanksgiving. And starting this year, in honor of the many small businesses that keep our cities and towns employed, the Saturday after Thanksgiving is called "Small Business Saturday."

Still no nickname for the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, but for most people that day probably involves giving the credit cards a much needed rest.