When you hear “Black Friday,” you might picture early-morning shoppers, long lines, and big sales. But how did this day come to be? Let’s take a look back at where Black Friday came from, how it got its name, and why it’s become one of the biggest shopping days of the year!

It All Started in Philadelphia

The term “Black Friday” was first used in the 1950s by police officers in Philadelphia. The day after Thanksgiving, huge crowds of people flooded into the city to start their holiday shopping and to catch the annual Army-Navy football game that weekend.

The police weren’t exactly thrilled about the traffic jams and overall chaos, and they started calling it “Black Friday.”

A Positive Spin

At first, the name didn’t sound so great, and held a negative meaning. But in the 1980s, stores decided to give “Black Friday” a new meaning. Retailers began using the term to describe the moment when their sales went from being “in the red” (losing money) to “in the black” (making a profit).

That name continued to stick, and Black Friday became known as the official kickoff to the holiday shopping season.

Early Birds and Doorbusters

In the early days, Black Friday sales started early in the morning, with many stores opening before sunrise. Shoppers would line up outside stores to grab limited “doorbuster” deals. Over time, stores began opening earlier and earlier (some even on Thanksgiving night), and some folks would go so far as to camp in front of stores to get the best savings!

The Rise of Online Shopping and Cyber Monday

As more people started shopping online, Cyber Monday was born! It started in 2005 as a way for people to shop from home after the busy holiday weekend. Today, lots of stores offer both in-person and online deals all week long, so you can snag savings without even leaving the couch.

Black Friday Deals For You

Don't forget to check out our Black Friday Deals this year at Metropolis Resort! Save big on hotel stays in December, and cash in on sweet gift card deals!