Every November, the digital world transforms into a carnival of commerce where civilization appears to depend entirely on promotional codes and time-sensitive deals. Retailers enthusiastically announce massive discounts of up to 90 percent, while social media influencers proudly display their latest acquisitions of often unnecessary items. Meanwhile, millions suddenly become amateur economists, passionately defending their half-priced kitchen appliances.
The Troubled Origins of Black Friday
While today's shopping extravaganza seems like a purely modern capitalist creation, the actual roots of Black Friday stretch back to much darker and more unusual beginnings than the bright promotional banners would suggest.
The term "Black Friday" originally carried deeply negative connotations, used by accountants and city officials with the same enthusiasm as someone reading through obituary notices. During 19th century America, the phrase typically described catastrophic events. The most notable occurrence happened on September 24, 1869, when wealthy financiers Jay Gould and James Fisk orchestrated a reckless gold-buying scheme that caused the stock market to collapse dramatically. Newspapers of the time labeled this disastrous day as Black Friday because it left the national economy struggling to recover.
For many decades following this event, the expression remained firmly associated with financial disasters and economic panic rather than shopping bags and retail excitement.
The Philadelphia Connection and Police Dread
The retail association with Black Friday emerged much later, and initially it was anything but complimentary. During the 1950s and 1960s, police departments in Philadelphia began referring to the day after Thanksgiving as Black Friday for entirely practical reasons.
The city would experience complete logistical breakdown as suburban crowds flooded urban areas for the annual Army-Navy football game scheduled during that weekend. This influx created massive traffic congestion, significant increases in shoplifting incidents, and general chaos so intense that police officers genuinely dreaded working their shifts during this period. Retail workers adopted the terminology from law enforcement, not because business was particularly profitable, but because virtually everything else about the day was problematic.
The Remarkable Public Relations Transformation
By the time the 1980s arrived, American retailers decided they had endured enough of their biggest shopping day sounding like something from a Greek tragedy. They embarked on a comprehensive rebranding campaign, promoting a much cleaner and more positive narrative: Black Friday supposedly represented the magical day when stores finally moved "into the black," meaning they became profitable for the entire year.
This simplified and easily shareable story spread rapidly throughout the retail industry and consumer consciousness, despite historical evidence repeatedly demonstrating that this explanation emerged long after the term had been in use. The power of public relations ultimately triumphed over historical accuracy, particularly within American consumer culture.
From Local Nuisance to Worldwide Phenomenon
What began as a localized urban inconvenience evolved into an international bargain-hunting festival as e-commerce began treating national borders as mere suggestions rather than barriers. When online retailers enthusiastically adopted the concept, Black Friday transformed into a truly transcontinental shopping ritual.
Countries including India, the United Kingdom, Middle Eastern nations, and Southeast Asian markets gradually joined the annual theater of discounts and promotions. The concept continued expanding beyond its original single-day format, giving birth to Cyber Monday as its digital counterpart, followed by week-long sales events, month-long promotions, and "early access" opportunities that sometimes begin before Diwali celebrations have even concluded.
Capitalism inherently dislikes empty spaces in the retail calendar, so Black Friday naturally expanded into an entire shopping season rather than remaining a single day event.
The Enduring Psychological Appeal
Black Friday maintains its cultural significance because it captures an essential modern truth about consumer behavior. The concept of genuine savings becomes somewhat mythical when people primarily purchase items they don't actually need. Retailers have demonstrated they understand human psychology more effectively than many philosophers ever could.
People fundamentally desire the feeling of winning, even when their prize consists of a discounted electronic gadget that will likely remain unused in a drawer by mid-January. The event represents a contemporary ritual combining hope, anxiety, and the distinctly modern desire to participate in a global moment—even one primarily constructed around overflowing shopping carts and consumer excess.
