Black Friday: Where the Sales Tradition Came From and How to Shop Wisely

At the end of November shops around the world announce big discounts: it is Black Friday. For some it is a chance to buy holiday gifts early; for others, a reason to ask whether to buy anything at all. Here is where the tradition comes from and how to use the sales wisely.

Gifts that last: potted plants and roses in a box.

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Where the name comes from

Black Friday is the Friday after American Thanksgiving, which falls on the fourth Thursday of November. One theory says the phrase was coined in Philadelphia in the 1950s and 1960s, where police used it for the day crowds of shoppers and traffic jams filled the city. A more upbeat explanation came later: on this day shops “go into the black”, moving from red-ink losses to profit.

• Cyber Monday. The Monday after Black Friday, when discounts move online. The name appeared in 2005.
• Buy Nothing Day. In the 1990s a campaign emerged urging people to buy nothing for at least one day.
• In Ukraine. The tradition arrived in the 2010s, and many shops and services now take part.

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How to shop wisely

• Make a list in advance. It helps you resist impulse buys and get what you really need.
• Compare prices. Sometimes a “discount” is calculated from an inflated price, so check what the item cost before.
• Think about holiday gifts. November is a convenient time to choose New Year presents early.

And flowers?

You cannot stock up on cut flowers, but you can book delivery for a specific date in advance or choose a gift that lasts: a potted plant, an arrangement in a box or a gift card. A nice idea is to surprise someone for no reason on sales day itself, as a reminder that what matters in a gift is the thought.

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For New Year gift ideas, see New Year gift ideas.

FAQ

When is Black Friday?

On the Friday after Thanksgiving in the USA, that is, on or around the last Friday of November.

What is Cyber Monday?

The Monday after Black Friday, when the main discounts are offered by online shops.

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Author: Maria Svitlovir

Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.