WHY IS FRIDAY CALLED BLACK?

For years I was thinking that Black Friday was related to the brisk sales that stores offered after Thanksgiving Day, since that is always on a Thursday. I read in a story that in the older times when ledgers were filled by pencil, red indicated a loss of income and black revealed profit. This made perfect sense. But then, browsing online, I have found some other explanations associated with historic facts.

For the first time the term Black Friday was used in financial context on September 24, 1869, when the price of gold plummeted causing stock market panic resulting in significant economic disruption. Sixty years later, on Tuesday of October 29, 1929, yet another “black” weekday occurred –  on that day the collapse of the market ignited a major economic downturn known as the Great Depression. Additionally, there is a Black Friday in July, which refers to major mid-year sales, also known as Amazon Prime Day.

But, according to numerous historical records, the name “Black Friday” actually came to prominence because of logistical nightmares caused by the annual Army vs. Navy football games in Philadelphia during the 1960’s. The game took place every year the day after Thanksgiving, and cab drivers, police, and drivers bemoaned the massive influx of people into the Philadelphia infrastructure and referred to the day as “Black Friday.” Storeowners, on the contrary, considered it one of their most profitable days of the year.

I was surprised to have read about that. The lesson for me – never say that you have the answer, regardless of the question.

The three images I am posting for you today, were taken on a Black Friday in San Francisco.

Enjoy and Share!