Amazon, Asda and John Lewis expected to offer wave of deals, while Sainsbury's will launch discounts for first time
Retailers have the Philadelphia Police Department to thank for Black Friday. It was the American police who, during the 1950s and 1960s, gave the name to the day after Thanksgiving because of the chaos that ensued in the city as shoppers flocked to the high street sales while spectators travelled to the annual Army vs Navy American football match.
Shops in Philadelphia pushed for the day to be known by the more flattering “Big Friday”. For them, the day after Thanksgiving was vital – it was the day that shoppers started their Christmas shopping and they wanted as many people as possible through their doors.
Indeed, the day was so crucial that retailers pushed the president to move Thanksgiving to earlier in November so there was more time for Christmas shopping.
The holiday used to be celebrated on the last Thursday in November, but in 1939 this was the last day of the month. After lobbying from retailers, President Roosevelt moved the day forward by a week and two years later it was confirmed that Thanksgiving would in future always be celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November, rather than the last.
As the years went by, Philadelphia’s nickname for the day began to catch on around the US. Black Friday gained other meanings too, with industry experts claiming it also referred to the fact it was the first day of the year that retailers finally moved from being in the red to generating a profit.
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Black Friday 2014
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