What is "Black Friday?"

Here in the states, we are all well aware that the day after Turkey day is Black Friday. We all know that millions and millions of people will go to sleep early on Thanksgiving night in preparation for shopping till they drop, literally.You know that if you are one of the first people outside of the big ticket stores you will be granted the deal of the season. But do you know why it is called "Black Friday"?

Black Friday has many meanings to many people around the world. Most of them refer to some type of tragedy or devastation. In Australia it refers to Jan 13,1939 where there was a brush fire that devastated 4,942,000 acres in Victoria. Seventy-one people died and some towns were completely wiped out. In the United States it refers to the day after Thanksgiving, when shoppers rampage and rummage any store offering savings for the holiday season.

Starting in the 1970's, the day after Thanksgiving was given the name Black Friday for one reason. This is the day that store owners could count on coming out of the red and into the black. Stores seem to spend most of the year in an unprofitable slump, this is being in the red. When they offer these amazing deals and price cuts on things that people need to accomplish their holiday shopping and gift giving, the shoppers eat it up and the stores finally make a profit, putting them in the black. Hence Black Friday.

Shoppers are out lined up in front of these stores hours before they open hoping for the best deal they can get. Many stores offer free gifts to certain amounts of shoppers and with the combined savings the people come flocking. Retailers believe that if they offer the best deals and savings they will boost there profits simply because people will spend more in their store.

If you can handle the crowds and chaos, Black Friday shopping may be for you. You would be helping your favorite stores stay profitable all the while saving yourself some much needed cash. Just be prepared. Where your comfiest shoes and get lots of rest. This is not a day of shopping for the timid or faint of heart. The lines will be long and the shoppers will be aggressive, but you may receive the deal you've been looking for.