{"id":1974,"date":"2022-11-21T00:09:49","date_gmt":"2022-11-21T00:09:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dayinterpreting.com\/blog\/?p=1974"},"modified":"2023-02-27T10:15:22","modified_gmt":"2023-02-27T10:15:22","slug":"black-friday-origin-and-evolution-of-the-worlds-biggest-shopping-event","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dayinterpreting.com\/blog\/black-friday-origin-and-evolution-of-the-worlds-biggest-shopping-event\/","title":{"rendered":"Black Friday: Origin and Evolution of the World’s Biggest Shopping Event"},"content":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s a wholesome story that goes a little like this: For years, shoppers would flood the malls after the celebrational dust of Thanksgiving had settled, and the surge of spending put many retailers \u201con the black\u201d for the rest of the year. But the name Black Friday wasn\u2019t always used in this sense.<\/p>\n

Every year, the famous sales weekend that follows Thanksgiving Day sees millions of shoppers head to high street stores and online brands to find the best deals. Big names like Amazon, Argos, and John Lewis all launch a range of offers with further discounts following until Cyber Monday. But much of the modern world has forgotten (or are oblivious to) the origins of the day.<\/p>\n

Before retail came up with a shiny spin to the event, the name Black Friday actually had a much more sinister meaning. Here\u2019s the real story of Black Friday!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Where Black Friday Started<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Black is usually connected to bad events. And when we\u2019ve had a bad day, we usually see it as a black day. There\u2019s a similar connotation to the origins of Black Friday. You see, the earliest records of the term Black Friday dates back to 1869. To be frank, it had zilch to do with festive shopping cheer. It was actually the day that gold prices plummeted so much that it caused a market crash. And the effects of this catastrophe were felt for years afterward throughout the U.S. economy.<\/p>\n

The idea of the shopping event that we\u2019re used to today was first implemented in the early 1950s or 60s in Philadelphia. It was a traffic cop that dreaded the day that coined its name! Over in Philly, the Police Department used the term to describe the disastrous traffic jams and crazy crowding of downtown retail stores. To the Philadelphia Police Department, Black Friday is by no means a term of endearment. What it marks is the opening of the city center for Christmas shopping. This event draws in massive crows that can easily cause chaos in the streets.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Glamourizing A Dreadful Occasion<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Retailers weren\u2019t loving the idea of using the day’s name in a gloomy light. After all, it was a day that would mark some of their most significant revenues. Naturally, they put a positive spin on a day that was classified by chaos.<\/p>\n

In 1961, P.R. professionals tried to change the perception of Black Friday in the eyes of the public. They even attempted to call it\u00a0Big<\/i>\u00a0Friday instead of Black Friday so it would signify a day of family fun and shopping. Needless to say, the term Big Friday didn\u2019t stick, but today, people don\u2019t view this day as dreadful at all. Retailers take full advantage of the event every year. And the rewards come in the form of a significant portion of their yearly sales!<\/p>\n

In 2019 alone, online sales during Black Friday reached a record high of $7.2 billion. This was 14% higher than the 2018 event\u2019s figures.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Global Black Friday Expansion<\/strong><\/h2>\n

From its gloomy origins, the event emerged as a global shopping bonanza. Along with the USA and U.K., the concept of Black Friday spread to continents and countries<\/a> across the globe. These include countries like Germany, Norway, Romania, India, Brazil, and South Africa, to name but a few.<\/p>\n

The Mexican version of the day is called \u201cEl Buen Fin<\/i>,\u201d which translates to \u201cthe good end<\/i>.\u201d In the UAE, bargains are on offer during this shopping event, but it\u2019s called \u201cWhite Friday<\/i>,\u201d not Black Friday.<\/p>\n

China also has its own version of the shopping event, called Single\u2019s Day (or Double Eleven Day), and it\u2019s held on the 11th\u00a0of November every year. They initially established it as an opposition to Valentine\u2019s Day celebrating single people in the 1990s. But the day is now one of the world\u2019s most significant 24-hour shopping events!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Wrapping Up the Story of Black Friday<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Although it\u2019s a great event for retailers and shoppers alike, the day is also a dark representation of consumerism. Violence and injuries have been common occurrences at Black Friday sales over the years. Here’s to hoping this year’s shopping bonanza will be a safe and pleasurable experience for each and every one of our Day Interpreting <\/a>followers!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s a wholesome story that goes a little like this: For years, shoppers would flood the malls after the celebrational dust of Thanksgiving had settled, and the surge of spending put many retailers \u201con the black\u201d for the rest of the year. But the name Black Friday wasn\u2019t always used in this sense. Every year, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":1988,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1974","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-interpreting"],"yoast_head":"\nBlack Friday: Origin and Evolution of the World's Biggest Shopping Event -<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Do you know the origin story of Black Friday and how the event evolved over the years? 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