Just a few decades ago, Black Friday meant being out all night—or getting up early in the morning—to snag a great bargain on the latest technology. For some, the tradition of early morning bargain hunting continues in brick-and-mortar stores, while others utilize their online shopping expertise on the Monday after Thanksgiving, also known as Cyber Monday, to grab the best deals of the year.

Regardless of your shopping tradition on Black Friday/Cyber Monday, it has developed into an established retail event in the USA and has even expanded to Canada. However, its actual origin remains unknown to most bargain hunters. Over the years, the events associated with Black Friday have undergone several reinventions before we arrived at where we are today.

The First Black Friday

Contrary to popular belief, the first Black Friday in history did not occur the day after Thanksgiving, but on Friday, September 24, 1869. On that day, two Wall Street capitalists conspired to buy and sell as much gold as they could manipulate the stock market. The result was a crash in gold prices and months of financial devastation.

Black Friday: The 1950s

Black Friday evolved to describe the influx of fans (and others) traveling to the Army-Navy game in Philadelphia, which takes place annually on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The huge crowds would become boisterous due to the game, leading to riots and mandatory overtime for Philadelphia police officers.

Black Friday: The 1980s

With the rise of megamalls, retailers tried to change how consumers perceived Black Friday. A new version of Black Friday was introduced when the day finally became profitable for retailers—shifting from red (debt) to black (profit). Stores issued special sale flyers, and people lined the streets to snag discounted deals on the season’s most popular and sought-after gifts. The reinvention of Black Friday—previously known for shoplifting and stock market crashes—transitioned into the Black Friday we know today.

Black Friday: 1990 to 2019

Over the years, stores began opening earlier, until Black Friday sales started on Thanksgiving evening. The desire for a good bargain and consumerism overtook Thanksgiving, a day traditionally meant to spend time with family and friends. Tired of losing precious time, a movement soon emerged over social media to return to the true meaning of Thanksgiving.

As a result, many major retailers committed to closing their doors on Thanksgiving, arguing that online sales would continue to be a lucrative option for bargain hunters who wanted to spend time at home. Wal-Mart, Target, and Best Buy continued to advocate for Thanksgiving as a day off for their employees.

In 2015, the outdoor retailer REI went a step further and launched #OptOutside, a paid day off on Black Friday for all employees to spend outdoors with friends and family and focus on their well-being.

2020: A COVID Black Friday

As retailers feared that Covid-19 would derail Black Friday sales, they shifted to larger online offers and extended their in-store holiday sales to reduce crowds and attract those seeking traditional Black Friday sales. USA Today referred to Black Friday 2020 as the ‘longest Cyber Monday ever,’ as health authorities suggested bargain hunters improve their online shopping skills, avoid crowds, and reduce the risk of Covid infection.

For the first time in nearly a decade, most retailers closed for in-person shopping on Thanksgiving in 2020. This shift in efforts paid off—spending on Black Friday increased by 19% compared to 2019.

Today’s Black Friday

In 2022, shoppers faced inflation and rising interest rates, while many retailers had an oversupply of goods. Retailers responded by starting Black Friday events as early as October, hoping bargain hunters would begin their Christmas shopping sooner. These eagerly awaited sales last until Thanksgiving week and through the end of the month.

If you hope to find a Black Friday deal for the perfect MOVA Globe, you’re in luck! MOVA Globes joined the masses and kicked off its Black Friday sale early, offering 20% off all globes. You can claim the Black Friday/Cyber Monday discount 2022 with the promo code BFCM2022 at checkout.