Why Is It Called Black Friday: The History Behind the Holiday

You’ve heard the story a million times: Black Friday is called Black Friday because it’s the day retailers finally go “in the black” for the year, turning a profit after months of being “in the red.” It sounds neat, clean, and perfectly logical. It’s also not the real story. Not even close.

The actual origin of “Black Friday” is a lot grittier and has nothing to do with accounting ledgers. The name didn’t come from a boardroom or a marketing department. It came from cops on the street who absolutely dreaded the day after Thanksgiving.

 

 

The Real Origin of “Black Friday”

The term first popped up in Philadelphia back in the 1950s and 60s. Police officers used “Black Friday” to describe the chaos that happened when suburban shoppers and tourists flooded the city for the big Army-Navy football game, which was held on that Saturday every year. It was a day of massive traffic jams, overcrowded sidewalks, and a spike in shoplifting.

For the police, it was a nightmare. They had to work extra-long shifts and couldn’t get the day off. It was a dark, miserable day for them, so they called it Black Friday. The name stuck in Philly for years, and local retailers hated it, even trying to rebrand the day as “Big Friday.” It didn’t work.

The “in the black” explanation was a marketing spin that came much later, in the 1980s, as retailers wanted to put a positive twist on the name that was spreading nationwide. And it worked! The profit story is the one most people know today, but the real history is a reminder of just how crazy this shopping day has always been.

Now, that chaos has turned into an entire month of deals. But some things never change — the best savings are still on big-ticket electronics, appliances, and classic gifts. Let’s get to the good stuff.

 

 

The Best Black Friday TV Deals (Because They’re Always The Big Ticket Item)

LG C3 65-Inch OLED evo 4K TV

Look for this TV to drop to the $1,300–$1,500 range, which is a massive $400 to $700 off its usual price. This is THE classic Black Friday TV deal.

High-end OLEDs like the LG C-series are why some of us still get excited for this stuff. You just don’t see discounts this deep any other time of year, especially on the crowd-pleasing 65-inch size. If you want perfect blacks and a true home theater experience, this is the one to watch.

It’s got all the specs you need for movies and next-gen gaming: a gorgeous 4K OLED panel, multiple HDMI 2.1 ports for 120Hz gaming, and support for every major HDR format. It’s the complete package.

The Downside: You have to be mindful of potential burn-in with OLEDs if you watch a ton of content with static logos (like 24-hour news). And even with a huge discount, it’s still more expensive than a basic LED TV.

 

 

Samsung QN90C 75-Inch Neo QLED 4K TV

A 75-inch TV of this quality for $1,700–$1,900 is wild. That’s a discount of anywhere from $800 to $1,200, one of the biggest dollar-off drops you’ll see.

If your living room is super bright, this is your TV. The Mini-LED backlight gets incredibly bright, making it perfect for watching sports during the day without glare ruining the picture. Samsung’s QLEDs are a fantastic alternative to OLED if you’re not in a pitch-black room.

It’s also a beast for gaming, with all the HDMI 2.1 features you’d expect. For a huge screen that can handle anything from movies to the big game to a PlayStation 5, this is a top-tier choice that becomes way more accessible on Black Friday.

The Downside: While the contrast is amazing for an LED TV, it can’t produce the perfect, inky blacks of an OLED in a completely dark room. And that price tag is still a serious investment.

 

 

Top Gaming & Laptop Deals for Black Friday 2026

Nintendo Switch OLED Model Console Bundle

Expect to see this for $300–$350, but with a popular game like Mario Kart 8 or Super Mario Bros. Wonder packed in. That’s basically a free game.

Nintendo is famous for not discounting its hardware, so these bundles are the best deal you’re gonna get. They sell out FAST. If you see the OLED model with a game you actually want for the standard console price, grab it immediately. It won’t last the weekend.

The 7-inch OLED screen is a huge upgrade for handheld play, making colors pop in a way the original Switch just can’t. It’s the perfect gift for families or anyone who wants to get into the massive Switch library.

The Downside: The internal storage is still pretty small. You’ll almost certainly need to buy a separate microSD card to hold more than a few games, so factor that into your budget.

 

 

Sony PlayStation 5 Slim Console Bundle

The magic number for a PS5 Slim bundle is $450–$500. This usually includes a huge new game like Spider-Man 2, which saves you about $70.

Just like Nintendo, Sony doesn’t slash console prices often. Black Friday bundles are the main event. Getting a must-have game included for what is essentially the normal price of the console is a fantastic way to jump into the current generation of gaming.

The PS5 is a powerhouse, with its super-fast SSD completely changing how quickly you can get into a game. With ray-tracing capabilities and a library of incredible exclusives, this is the console deal many people will be hunting for.

The Downside: The initial bundle is a good deal, but the ecosystem is expensive. Extra controllers, accessories, and new games will add up quickly.

 

 

Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M2 chip)

Finding the M2 MacBook Air for $850–$950 is an absolute steal. Apple discounts are rare, so a $150–$250 price drop is about as good as it gets.

This is the deal for students, writers, or anyone who needs a premium, lightweight laptop. The M2 chip is incredibly fast and efficient, meaning you get fantastic performance and the battery lasts forever. It doesn’t even have a fan because it runs so cool.

You’re paying for the whole package: a brilliant Retina display, one of the best keyboards and trackpads in the business, and a super portable design. This is a machine that will last for years.

The Downside: The base model comes with only 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. Upgrades from Apple are still very expensive, even during a sale.

 

 

Dell Inspiron 15.6-Inch Laptop (Core i5/8GB/512GB)

This is your classic doorbuster laptop, likely falling to the $300–$450 range. That’s a solid $200 or more off its regular price.

Need a reliable Windows laptop for school, work, or just browsing the web? This is it. These specs—an Intel Core i5, 8GB of RAM, and a spacious 512GB SSD—are the sweet spot for everyday performance without breaking the bank. Dell and other brands pump these out for Black Friday, and they offer tremendous value.

You get a large 15.6-inch screen and enough power to handle office tasks, streaming, and having a dozen browser tabs open without slowing to a crawl. The SSD is key here, making it feel much snappier than old laptops with mechanical hard drives.

The Downside: To hit this price, compromises are made. The build quality will be mostly plastic, and the screen won’t be as bright or colorful as the one on a MacBook Air.

 

 

Home & Tech Deals That Are Actually Worth It

Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones

When these hit $280–$320, it’s time to pounce. That’s a solid $70 to $100 off what are widely considered the best noise-canceling headphones you can buy.

If you travel, commute on public transit, or work in a noisy office, these are a lifesaver. Sony’s noise cancellation is simply incredible; it can silence everything from a plane’s engine to office chatter. They are also super comfortable for long listening sessions.

The sound quality is top-notch, and features like multipoint Bluetooth (connecting to your phone and laptop at the same time) make them incredibly convenient for daily use. This is a premium product that rarely sees discounts this big.

The Downside: They’re still pricey, even on sale. And like any over-ear headphones, they can make your ears feel a little warm after a few hours of continuous wear.

 

 

Dyson V15 Detect Cordless Stick Vacuum

Seeing the V15 drop to $550–$650 is a big deal. That’s a $150 to $200 discount on a vacuum that almost never goes on sale.

Yes, it’s a lot for a vacuum, but the Dyson V15 is a beast. The laser on the hard floor head is wild—it reveals dust you literally cannot see otherwise. Once you use it, you can’t go back. For pet owners or allergy sufferers, its powerful suction and advanced filtration are worth it.

Being cordless makes cleaning so much faster. You can just grab it and go, tackling small messes or cleaning the whole house without plugging anything in. The Black Friday price makes this luxury tool feel a lot more attainable.

The Downside: The battery life on max power mode is short, so you have to use it strategically. And if the battery eventually dies, a replacement is not cheap.

 

 

KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Stand Mixer

This is a Black Friday icon. When it drops to the $250–$300 range, it’s an immediate buy for anyone who loves to bake. That’s up to $180 off!

The KitchenAid stand mixer is a kitchen workhorse that will last for decades. It makes everything from bread dough to cookie batter to whipped cream so much easier. Plus, it looks fantastic on the counter.

This is one of the most popular wedding registry and holiday gift items for a reason. Black Friday is consistently the best time of year to buy one, often beating any other sale by a wide margin. If it’s on your list, this is the time.

The Downside: It’s incredibly heavy and takes up a lot of counter space. If you have a small kitchen, you’ll need to find a dedicated storage spot for it.

 

 

Ninja Foodi DualZone Air Fryer (8-Quart)

Look for this to drop to $120–$170, a killer discount of up to $100 off. Air fryers are a huge category for Black Friday, and this is one of the best.

What’s so great about this one? The two independent baskets. You can air fry chicken nuggets in one basket and roast vegetables in the other, at different temperatures and for different times, and have them finish simultaneously. It’s brilliant for getting a whole meal on the table fast.

It’s big enough for a family and does way more than just air fry—it can roast, reheat, and dehydrate, too. It’s a countertop powerhouse that you’ll end up using almost every day.

The Downside: It’s bulky. The two-basket design takes up a considerable amount of counter space. It can also get pretty loud when the fans are running at full tilt.

 

 

So, Is Black Friday Still a Big Deal in 2026?

Absolutely, but it’s different. It’s not a single day anymore; it’s a whole season of deals that starts in October. You don’t have to line up at 4 a.m. to get the best prices on most things. The chaos the Philly cops complained about has moved mostly online.

But the core idea is the same. For certain categories—especially big TVs, laptops, premium headphones, and brand-name kitchen appliances—the discounts you’ll see from now through Cyber Monday are legitimately the best of the year. The key is knowing what a real deal looks like.

Ignore the fake “original” prices and focus on the products you already wanted. If a flagship item like a Dyson vacuum or a KitchenAid mixer drops by over 25%, that’s the real deal. The name may have a dark and chaotic history, but the savings are very, very real.