The term “Black Friday” has been used exclusively in the US, however in more recent years, the phenomenon has spread across the globe with many countries now recognizing it as something to mark on their calendar.
Although it’s not technically a holiday, there is lots to do and some US states take this day off to prepare for Christmas. So what is so great about this day? Why is it special to not only US citizens but people worldwide?
What is Black Friday?
Black Friday is the unofficial name for the day after Thanksgiving, which is the fourth Thursday of November. It marks the beginning of Christmas shopping and many retail stores will open for promotional sales very early in the morning. This has made Black Friday the busiest shopping day in the US since 2005.
However, while it’s still an incredibly busy day, sales have decreased in recent years due to people spreading out their Christmas shopping across the months of November and December to take advantage of all the sales offered.
The concept of online shopping has also lessened the impact of Black Friday. Some retail stores have actually resorted to staying open for the weekend so that more people are able to access their stores and benefit from the sales offered. Others have taken their sales online.
Is it Considered a Holiday?
This will depend on which state you’re in. Almost half of the states have declared it a public holiday, including California and Illinois, whereas others will still expect employees to work through Black Friday.
There are some stores that will be open on Thanksgiving so that people are able to get their early bird Christmas shopping done, allowing them to enjoy the rest of their 4-day weekend holiday. Others who are working will take advantage during the weekend, where stores can open as early as 5 am to give you more of a chance to grab sales. For retail stores, this certainly isn’t a holiday and since it’s known for its enthusiastic shoppers, you will want to get in early so that you don’t miss out on anything or get stuck in long lines.
When do Black Friday sales start?
The starting times for sales are getting earlier and earlier because there’s such a high demand for them. Huge chain stores like Walmart and Best Buy are opening on Thanksgiving evening at 5-6 pm and will be open until after midnight before closing for a few hours.
This will give you and other shoppers a little time to rest your feet and eyes before venturing back into the fray when the stores reopen anywhere from regular store hours to as early as 5 am.
These sales can go on for as long as one week so even after Thanksgiving, you have the opportunity to save on things that you need for Christmas or personal use.
What Happens After?
The sales can be quite unnerving for some because people tend to get very enthusiastic about getting the best sales. If that’s not the shopping experience you’re into, there is always online shopping that you can use. Cyber Monday comes right after Thanksgiving and is known for huge discounts on all the online stores. Online shopping has gained a lot of following due to easy use.
Where Will you Store Extra Items?
Despite predominantly purchasing gifts for Christmas, there are still things that you need for you and your own household. It could be a new computer, furniture, maybe even a new kitchen sink!
Uh-oh! I’ve bought too much stuff!
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