The term “Black Friday” began as a negative label used by Philadelphia police to describe overwhelming traffic and crowded streets. Over time, retailers rebranded it as a symbol of profit and festive shopping, turning it into one of the most important commercial events of the year. A Black Friday sale advertisement on Regent Street, London, Britain, November 27, 2025. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes(REUTERS) “Black Friday” is now known worldwide as a major shopping event, but its name has much older, local roots. The term didn’t start as a celebration – it started as a way to describe chaos. Origin of the name “Black Friday” The modern use of “Black Friday” goes back to Philadelphia in the 1950s and 1960s. Originated by Philadelphia Police Police officers and bus drivers used the term “Black Friday” to describe the day after Thanksgiving because: -Streets were packed with shoppers -Traffic jams lasted for hours -Stores were overcrowded -Shoplifting incidents increased. Retail effort to change the name Local retailers were unhappy with the negative connotation. They tried to rename it “Good Friday”, but the term never caught on. Instead, the original name spread through media coverage across the United States. The ‘Red to Black’ explanation By the 1980s, retailers had transformed the term with a more positive interpretation. In traditional accounting: Red ink = financial loss Black ink = financial gain Retailers have promoted the idea that heavy shopping on the day after Thanksgiving helps businesses go from “in the red” to “in the black.” This explanation gained wide acceptance and helped popularize Black Friday as a profitable shopping holiday. Modern Interpretation Today, Black Friday is associated with: -Massive discounts -Start of the holiday shopping season -Online and in-store offers -Record-breaking sales volumes The original chaotic meaning has largely faded, replaced by excitement around consumer spending and holiday preparations.