During the week of November 20 - 26, 2023, it doesn't matter what the weather is like - millions of people will be shopping and saving money. Specifically Friday, November 24 is 'Black' Friday, a traditionally big sales day in many countries in the world. Now, of course, Black Friday deals (= a good price for a product) can be found online, too.

So you can shop indoors on rainy days in November or shop even more comfortably from your home online. How did Black Friday begin, though, and why do we call is 'black' and not 'purple' Friday?

In the 1950's in Philidelphia, Pennsylvania (USA), people went shopping the day after Thanksgiving, an American holiday spent eating turkey with family. (Read my column 'Turkey, Travel and Shopping in America' to learn more about that holiday.)

There were so many people on the streets in Philidelphia on that day during those years that the police had a difficult time controlling the crowds, so they called those Fridays 'Black Friday'. In those times 'black' usually meant something bad. 

Maybe you have heard of 'Black Thursday'? It happened in 1929. Or do you remember 'Black Monday' in 1987? On both of those 'black' days the stock market in the USA crashed (= the values of stocks dropped quickly and caused financial problems for many people).

But today 'Black Friday' has no connection with anything bad. In business we talk about a company being 'in the black' or 'in the red'. This means a company is making money (= 'in the black') or is losing it (= 'in the red'). So if sales are increased by many people shopping, many retailers (= companies which sell products to customers) will be in the black. 

Traditionally in the United States, Christmas shopping begins on Black Friday. 'Why?', you might ask. The answer is many Americans have the day after Thanksgiving off (= they do not have to work or go to school), so they have time to shop. Maybe you have seen the crowds waiting for shops to open on Black Friday? Or the crowds of shoppers going crazy trying to buy everything they can on Black Friday? 

This madness happens every year, but many people wait till the crowds have left the stores and shop in a relaxed manner. Shops are open most of the day, so there is no need to fight the crowds. Personally, I never shop on Black Friday, though. The reason is I hate to be in crowds, so I shop before or after Black Friday.

Will you be shopping on Black Friday? Why? Why not? Leave a comment below and share your experiences.

And if you want to learn more business English vocabulary, like 'in the black', book a lesson with me! Happy shopping and I hope to see you online soon.