Thanksgiving is a time for family, a time for reflection, and a time to take a break from the fast pace of every day life and rest in preparation for America’s busiest shopping day, ‘Black Friday’.

But where did this tradition come from? 

By some accounts, ‘Black Friday’ is a product of post-World War II consumerism that arose as America recovered from the Great Depression.  In the struggle to cope with the atrocities of war and newfound financial stability, many Americans are said to have sought refuge with early morning, deal buster department store sales.

This seems an unlikely catalyst though, as most department stores remained confined to only the biggest of cities.

Another, more likely, account suggests ‘Black Friday’ stems back to the very first Thanksgiving.  After the bountiful shared feast between Native and Pilgrim, it is said the English Colonists retired home early to rest for what would evolve into what we know today as ‘Black Friday.’

The first ‘Black Friday’ didn’t consist of department store sails and extended shopping hours though.  Instead, it is believed, it consisted of rampant pillaging and early forms of white supremacy. 

Experts believe the Pilgrims reacted negatively to excessive amounts of the foreign chemical tryptophan found in wild turkey, leaving them with an unrelenting desire to acquire new consumer goods at greatly reduced prices.

When no consumer goods were to be found, it is said that desire turned into murderous rage and the beginning of Westward Expansion.

Due in part to the Indian Removal act of 1830 and the Natives’ low tolerance to foreign disease, this tradition would eventually morph into what we know today – a reason to wake up at 4:00 am for 50% Haggar slacks.

Filed under: US News by admin