Black Friday used to be the big start of the Christmas shopping season. Years ago, parents would wake up early, bundle up in warm clothes, and head to stores with Christmas lists their kids had made. Some people waited outside for hours in the cold just to get a good deal. When the doors finally opened, crowds rushed inside looking for discounted air fryers, toys, and other gifts popular around kids and teens that year.
Today, Black Friday shopping is pretty different. Instead of waiting in long lines and pushing through crowded stores, many people just look for deals on their phones or computers, especially now that online shopping events like Cyber Monday have become popular. They can order gifts from home and have them delivered right to their door. Student Elie Taylor, who has shopped in person on Black Friday, said, “Yes, I have been shopping on Black Friday in person, and it was a little crowded but it was a fabulous experience. If I had to pick one, I’d choose shopping in person because it’s more fun.”
The term “Black Friday” first became popular in Philadelphia, where police officers used it to describe the heavy traffic and crowds around Thanksgiving. Later, another explanation became popular among stores. It referred to businesses making a profit, or going “into the black.” The term eventually became closely connected to holiday shopping and sales.
For many years, Black Friday was something families planned around. Parents would figure out which stores to visit first, get up before sunrise, and try to find the best prices on Christmas gifts. For some people, it became a yearly tradition. However, not everyone enjoys shopping in person. Student Addie Eich said, “I have been to Black Friday in person, but it was way too crowded to the point I felt like I was at Disney. For most things, I would probably go with online.”
Even though shopping has changed, people still look forward to holiday deals. Instead of waking up at 4 a.m. to buy a blender or a new television, shoppers can now check websites and apps for discounts. Online shopping also makes it easier to compare prices without having to drive from store to store. Michelle Dawson, an adult who has experienced Black Friday shopping, said, “Yes, I’ve went to Black Friday in person, but I went later in the day when it wasn’t crowded and all the deals were gone. In my opinion, I would rather shop in the comfort of my own home and get the same deals. I’d also choose online shopping every time unless the deal only in person was too good to pass up.”
Black Friday will probably keep changing as technology improves. Virtual reality shopping and new ways to buy things through social media could become more common in the future. Shopping in a virtual mall might sound strange now, but online shopping was not nearly as common a generation ago as it is today.
Black Friday has gone from long lines and crowded stores to people scrolling through sales on their phones. Some families still enjoy going out and shopping in person, while others would rather stay home and order everything online. Either way, Black Friday is still a big part of the Christmas shopping season, even if it doesn’t look the same as it used to.
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