Black Friday Facts

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Over 75 fun facts about Black Friday including 25 fun facts about Black Friday especially for kids plus more about its history, its name, and more.

Black Friday Facts


Table of Contents

What is Black Friday?

Black Friday is a shopping event that occurs on the day after the United States’ Thanksgiving holiday. It is typically considered to be the beginning of the Christmas shopping season, and many retailers offer significant discounts on their products to attract shoppers.

The term “Black Friday” originated in Philadelphia in the 1960s, and referred to the heavy traffic and chaos that occurred on the day after Thanksgiving as shoppers flocked to stores.

Over time, the term came to be associated with the idea that retailers’ financial losses (or “red ink”) for the year were turned into profits (or “black ink”) on the day after Thanksgiving due to the large number of shoppers and sales.

Black Friday has become a popular shopping event in many countries around the world, and is often accompanied by online sales and promotions as well.

Fun Facts About Black Friday

Here are 25 fun facts about Black Friday:

  1. Black Friday is the busiest shopping day of the year in the United States.
  2. It is estimated that more than 165 million people shop in stores or online during the Black Friday weekend.
  3. Black Friday originated in Philadelphia in the 1960s, but the term didn’t become popular until the 1980s.
  4. The Friday after Thanksgiving was not always the busiest shopping day of the year; that title used to belong to the Saturday before Christmas.
  5. The term “Black Friday” is said to have originated from the practice of recording losses in red ink and profits in black ink, and Black Friday was the day that retailers’ accounts would go “into the black” for the year.
  6. In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Black Friday saw a significant shift to online shopping, with more people than ever choosing to shop from home.
  7. Black Friday is not just a U.S. phenomenon – it has spread to other countries, including Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and many others.
  8. Many retailers offer “doorbuster” deals on Black Friday – these are limited-time offers that are only available for a short period of time, or while supplies last.
  9. In recent years, many retailers have extended their Black Friday sales to start on Thanksgiving Day, sparking controversy and backlash from some consumers and employees.
  10. The average Black Friday shopper spends around $300 on gifts and other items.
  11. Some retailers offer special promotions and discounts to customers who arrive at their stores early in the morning on Black Friday.
  12. Cyber Monday, the Monday after Thanksgiving, has also become a major shopping day, with many online retailers offering significant discounts.
  13. In 2019, more than $7.4 billion was spent online on Black Friday, making it the second-largest online shopping day ever (after Cyber Monday).
  14. The National Retail Federation estimates that holiday retail sales in the United States will reach $789.4 billion in 2021.
  15. Some people camp out overnight outside of stores to be first in line for Black Friday deals.
  16. In 2011, a woman at a Walmart in California used pepper spray on fellow shoppers in order to secure a discounted Xbox.
  17. Black Friday has been associated with violence and chaos in some instances, as shoppers have been known to trample each other and engage in fights over discounted items.
  18. In 2013, a man in Las Vegas was shot and killed in a dispute over a parking space outside a Walmart on Black Friday.
  19. In 2016, a man in New Jersey was arrested after allegedly cutting in line and then threatening other shoppers with a knife.
  20. Some retailers, including REI, have decided to close their stores on Black Friday in recent years in order to encourage people to spend time outside with family and friends.
  21. Black Friday is also a popular day for travel, as many people take advantage of the long weekend to visit family and friends.
  22. In some parts of the world, Black Friday is viewed as a symbol of American consumerism and excess.
  23. Many retailers offer special deals and promotions throughout the week leading up to Black Friday, which is often referred to as “Black Week.”
  24. In 2018, a woman in Los Angeles was filmed causing chaos at a mall by knocking over displays and throwing merchandise, reportedly in an attempt to get her hands on a discounted television.
  25. The hashtag #BoycottBlackFriday has been used by some people who object to the commercialization of the holiday season.

We hope you enjoyed these fun facts about Black Friday!

Black Friday Facts

Fun Facts About Black Friday

Here are 25 more fun facts about Black Friday:

  1. Some people use Black Friday as an opportunity to give back to their communities, by donating money or volunteering at local charities.
  2. In 2017, a survey found that around 70% of Americans planned to shop on Black Friday.
  3. The first recorded use of the term “Black Friday” to describe the day after Thanksgiving was in a 1961 publication in the Factory Management and Maintenance magazine.
  4. Black Friday is not a federal holiday in the United States, but some states observe it as a state holiday.
  5. The largest mall in the United States, the Mall of America in Minnesota, attracts over 100,000 visitors on Black Friday.
  6. The first online Black Friday sale was in 2005, when online retailer Amazon offered discounts on various products.
  7. Many retailers offer price matching on Black Friday, meaning they will match a competitor’s price on an item in order to secure the sale.
  8. In some cases, retailers offer products at a loss on Black Friday in order to attract customers and drive foot traffic to their stores.
  9. In 2019, the average Black Friday discount was around 20%.
  10. The term “Black Friday” is sometimes used to refer to other events or disasters that occur on the same day, such as the 1869 stock market crash or the Australian bushfires in 1939.
  11. Some people have started a movement called “Buy Nothing Day” as a response to Black Friday, encouraging people to abstain from shopping for a day and instead focus on spending time with family and friends.
  12. In recent years, some retailers have extended their Black Friday sales beyond the weekend, with deals running through the entire month of November.
  13. Black Friday has become so popular that some retailers now offer “pre-Black Friday” deals and discounts in the weeks leading up to the big day.
  14. In 2014, a 13-year-old girl was trampled by shoppers at a Walmart in Missouri, suffering a concussion and broken teeth.
  15. Many retailers use Black Friday as an opportunity to clear out excess inventory and make room for new merchandise.
  16. Black Friday is not just for big-box retailers – small businesses and local shops also participate in the shopping extravaganza.
  17. In some countries, Black Friday falls on a different day than the Friday after Thanksgiving. For example, in Canada, Black Friday is the day after American Thanksgiving, which falls on the fourth Thursday in November.
  18. Some people have started a trend of “reverse Black Friday,” where they donate money or goods to charity instead of buying things for themselves.
  19. Black Friday has become a major event in the gaming industry, with many retailers offering discounts on video games, consoles, and accessories.
  20. The term “Black Friday” has also been used to describe the devastating wildfires that ravaged Australia in 1939.
  21. In some cases, the discounts offered on Black Friday are not as good as they seem, as retailers may mark up prices in the weeks leading up to the big day in order to make the sale price look more appealing.
  22. Black Friday has become a global phenomenon, with retailers in countries around the world offering special deals and discounts to attract customers.
  23. In 2015, two people were shot and killed at a Macy’s store in New Jersey on Black Friday.
  24. In recent years, some retailers have started to offer “virtual lines” for Black Friday, allowing customers to reserve a spot in line online and avoid the chaos and crowds at the store.
  25. Despite its popularity, some people choose to avoid Black Friday altogether, citing concerns about consumerism, overconsumption, and environmental impact.

We hope you enjoyed these fun facts about Black Friday!

Black Friday Facts

Fun Facts About Black Friday for Kids

Here are 25 fun facts about Black Friday that kids might enjoy:

  1. Black Friday is the busiest shopping day of the year in the United States.
  2. The first official Black Friday sale was held in 1924.
  3. Black Friday was originally called “Big Friday” by retailers.
  4. Black Friday is not a government holiday, but some schools may have the day off.
  5. The term “Black Friday” refers to the day when retailers go from being in the red (losing money) to being in the black (making a profit).
  6. The first item sold on Black Friday in 1924 was a watch.
  7. Some people camp outside of stores for days before Black Friday in order to be the first in line for deals.
  8. Black Friday sales start as early as Thanksgiving Day for some retailers.
  9. The busiest time for Black Friday shopping is usually between 2:00 am and 4:00 am.
  10. In some cases, people have been injured or even killed while shopping on Black Friday.
  11. In 2013, a man in Las Vegas bought a car for $5,000 off its original price on Black Friday.
  12. The day after Black Friday is known as “Small Business Saturday,” which encourages people to shop at small, locally-owned businesses.
  13. Cyber Monday is the online equivalent of Black Friday, with retailers offering special deals and discounts online.
  14. In some countries, such as the United Kingdom, Black Friday has become controversial because of the chaos and violence that often accompanies the sales.
  15. Some retailers offer “doorbuster” deals on Black Friday, which are extremely low-priced items that are intended to draw customers into the store.
  16. In 2019, the total amount spent on Black Friday was over $7 billion.
  17. Black Friday is the busiest day of the year for plumbers because of the large number of people who clog their toilets with too much toilet paper.
  18. Some stores offer special discounts to customers who arrive wearing pajamas on Black Friday.
  19. Black Friday is also a popular day for people to buy new televisions.
  20. In 2014, a woman in Los Angeles pepper-sprayed other shoppers in order to get to a deal on a video game console.
  21. The day before Thanksgiving is known as “Blackout Wednesday” because it is the busiest day of the year for bars and alcohol sales.
  22. Some retailers hire extra security guards on Black Friday to prevent theft and ensure the safety of customers.
  23. In some cases, people have been arrested for fighting over items on Black Friday.
  24. Some retailers offer special deals for people who bring in old electronics to be recycled on Black Friday.
  25. Some people choose to boycott Black Friday altogether in order to protest consumerism and its negative impact on the environment.

We hope you enjoyed these fun facts about Black Friday!

What is the History of Black Friday?

Another fun fact about Black Friday is that the history of Black Friday is somewhat disputed, but the most commonly accepted origin story dates back to the 1950s in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

At that time, police officers in Philadelphia used the term “Black Friday” to describe the chaos and congestion that occurred the day after Thanksgiving, when hordes of suburban shoppers and tourists would flood into the city for the big Army-Navy football game, which was traditionally held on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

The term “Black Friday” referred to the high volume of pedestrian and vehicle traffic that caused major headaches for law enforcement, as well as the disruption and destruction that often accompanied the influx of visitors. It wasn’t until the 1980s that the term “Black Friday” came to be associated with the biggest shopping day of the year.

The retail industry began to embrace the term and use it as a marketing tool, with retailers offering big sales and deals to entice shoppers to come out and start their holiday shopping. Over time, Black Friday has grown into a major cultural phenomenon, with retailers competing to offer the biggest and best deals, and shoppers lining up for hours before stores open to get their hands on the most sought-after items.

Black Friday is widely regarded as the official kickoff to the holiday shopping season, and it is considered the busiest shopping day of the year in the United States. While some people love the excitement and thrill of the hunt for bargains, others criticize the consumerism and materialism that Black Friday represents.

Fun Facts About Black Friday – Black Friday Traditions

Black Friday traditions vary depending on where you are in the world, but in addition to the fun facts about Black Friday, some common traditions include:

  1. Early morning shopping: Black Friday shopping typically starts very early in the morning, with many stores opening their doors as early as 4 or 5 am.
  2. Huge sales and deals: Many retailers offer steep discounts and special deals on Black Friday to entice shoppers to come out and start their holiday shopping.
  3. Long lines and crowds: Black Friday is known for its long lines and crowds, as shoppers line up outside stores hours before they open to be among the first to score the best deals.
  4. Online shopping: In recent years, online shopping has become a popular alternative to traditional Black Friday shopping, with many retailers offering online-exclusive deals.
  5. Doorbuster deals: Retailers often offer special “doorbuster” deals, which are deeply discounted items that are only available in limited quantities, in an effort to get shoppers in the door early.
  6. Limited-time offers: Some retailers only offer their Black Friday deals for a limited time, often just a few hours, to create a sense of urgency among shoppers.
  7. Gift card promotions: Many retailers offer gift card promotions on Black Friday, giving shoppers the opportunity to get a free gift card with a purchase over a certain amount.
  8. Returns and exchanges: Black Friday shoppers should be aware of the return and exchange policies of the stores they shop at, as some retailers may have stricter policies around Black Friday purchases.

Black Friday traditions tend to focus on the excitement and rush of finding great deals and getting a head start on holiday shopping.

Fun Facts About Black Friday – Black Friday Quotes

In addition to the fun facts about Black Friday, here are some quotes about Black Friday

  1. “Black Friday: Because only in America, people trample others for sales exactly one day after being thankful for what they already have.” – Unknown
  2. “Black Friday is not a day for the faint of heart.” – Unknown
  3. “Black Friday is the day when the madness of the crowds reaches its peak and shopping turns into a blood sport.” – Unknown
  4. “Black Friday: Survival of the fittest.” – Unknown
  5. “On Black Friday, everything is on sale except for patience and kindness.” – Unknown
  6. “Black Friday is like the Hunger Games, but with more sales.” – Unknown
  7. “Black Friday: The day retail employees can see the true meaning of hell.” – Unknown
  8. “Black Friday: Because only in America, people camp out and wait in line for hours to buy things they don’t need.” – Unknown
  9. “Black Friday: The day we trample each other for things we don’t need, the day after being thankful for what we have.” – Unknown

We hope you enjoyed these fun facts about Black Friday!

Check out These Fun Facts for Other Holidays

President’s Day, Mardi Gras, Day Light Savings Day, St. Patrick’s Day, April Fools Day, Mother’s Day, Easter, Arbor Day, Cinco de Mayo, Memorial Day, D-Day, Juneteenth, Father’s Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Patriot Day, Columbus Day, Halloween, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, New Years Day, Groundhog Day

Check out These Fun Facts for Other Days and Dates

February, March, April, May, Tax Day, Year of the Rabbit, Winter Solstice, Summer Solstice, Spring Equinox, Fall Equinox, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, Summer, Spring, Fall, Winter, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays

Black Friday Facts

We hope you enjoyed these fun facts about Black Friday!