At this time of the year, between autumn and winter, pure chaos starts to creep into our everyday lives. We find ourselves racing against the clock, going from one store to another in search of Christmas gifts, or wandering through Christmas markets around the country. But during one particular weekend, everything becomes even more chaotic: Black Friday. This so turned global phenomenon has become one of the busiest shopping days each year.
How chaos sparked a global phenomena
The name Black Friday, taking place right after Thanksgiving, originated in Philadelphia, USA, in the 1960s. The nickname was created by the city’s police officers as a warning to their colleagues to describe the unfiltered chaos that spread throughout the city. It was often a ‘dark’ day for police officers tasked with maintaining order: chaos, traffic jams, accidents, and other issues were common[1].
Retailers also began to notice a decline in sales during that time of the year, as people feared a recurrence of events. With having to cover massive losses, retailers worked to rebrand this holiday from something treacherous into something more appealing[2]. Thus, they attempted to put a prettier face on the day by calling it ‘Big Friday’.
The meaning of “Black Friday” as we know it today didn’t grow nationwide until the late 1980s. Then, merchants started to spread the red-to-black profit narrative: the idea that businesses operate at a loss (a.k.a “in the red”) until the day after Thanksgiving, when increased sales pushed them into profit (a.k.a “in the black”).
Later, Black Friday expanded globally and became a cultural export, largely to spread of online shopping and the influence of American retailers like Amazon. The ritual was adopted by many countries around the world, even those that do not celebrate Thanksgiving. Since then, anticipation for the day has grown, with people impatiently refreshing websites, counting down to midnight, and planning their purchases weeks in advance.
The Christmas experience
This time of the year is also the season of Christmas markets. Originating in Germany in the 15th century, European Christmas markets began as winter fairs where villagers would go and stock up on needed goods before the cold, wet days of winter would begin[3].
However, over time these fairs have transformed into something that goes far beyond a small-scale market: they have evolved into big celebrations that combine tradition, culture, and festive charm into a single experience. Christmas markets have become experiences sought by tourists worldwide, with many spending significant amounts of money just to experience their magic in person.
Ready to experience this magic for yourself? Here are a few must-visit markets in Europe:
- Bruges, Belgium: Winter Glow from November 21 to January 4
- Copenhagen, Denmark: Tivoli Gardens from November 14 to January 4
- Valkenburg, Netherlands: Christmas City from November 14 to January 4
[1] https://www.britannica.com/story/why-is-it-called-black-friday
[2] https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/how-black-friday-went-from-chaos-to-a-global-shopping-phenomenon-9714144
[3] https://www.railescape.com/travel-inspiration/the-complete-history-of-christmas-markets-from-medieval-origins-to-modern-magic/