Black Friday is a day when stores offer big discounts on products, encouraging people to shop and prepare for the festive season.
It happens every year on the fourth Friday of November, the day after Thanksgiving in the United States. This year, Black Friday fell on Friday, November 29, 2024.
The tradition began in the United States but has spread to other countries, including New Zealand. Retailers sometimes extend the sales through the weekend and into Cyber Monday, which focuses on online shopping deals.
Many people use Black Friday to buy Christmas presents or snag bargains on items they’ve been eyeing.
The name “Black Friday” was first used in Philadelphia by police officers in the 1960s to describe the chaos caused by crowds of shoppers after Thanksgiving. In the 1980s, businesses gave the term a more positive spin, linking it to profits. When a business is “in the black,” it means they are making money, as opposed to being “in the red,” which means they are losing money.
Retailers look forward to Black Friday as part of the “Golden Quarter,” the final months of the year when sales are highest.
Whether you’re looking for gifts or simply a good deal, Black Friday is a day when many shoppers go all out!
