Where the term "Black Friday" originated:
A couple decades ago, store owners started promoting the idea that we call it "Black Friday," because this is the day when retailers finally get their finances into the black for the year.
The name "Black Friday" originated in Philadelphia, where it originally was used by The Philadelphia Police Department to describe the heavy and disruptive pedestrian and vehicle traffic which would occur on the day after Thanksgiving. The reason for that traffic though was the same as the reason for stores making all that money: Everyone was out Christmas shopping.
_________________