The holidays are quickly approaching and one of the biggest online shopping days of the year is here, Cyber Monday! The term Cyber Monday made its debut over a decade ago, in 2005. Since then it has changed the way of shopping for the holidays. Hope everyone finds that perfect gift for that special someone (cough, SlideBelt, cough cough) haha. But I also just wanted to remind everyone that it’s not what’s under the Christmas tree, but who’s around it. Enjoy the family time and memories made this season. :)

Why is it called Black Friday?

The unofficial start of the holiday shopping season is often referred to as the busiest shopping day of the year. But where did this tradition start and just how big is it?

The term "Black Friday" originated in Philadelphia. In the 1960's, police in Philadelphia griped about the congested streets, clogged with motorists and pedestrians, calling it “Black Friday.” In a non-retail sense, it also describes a financial crisis of 1869: a stock market catastrophe set off by gold spectators who tried and failed to corner the gold market, causing the market to collapse and stocks to plummet. “Black” refers to stores moving from the “red” to the “black,” back when accounting records were kept by hand, and red ink indicated a loss, and black a profit. Ever since the start of the modern Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1924, the Friday after Thanksgiving has been known as the unofficial start to a bustling holiday shopping season.

Why did Black Friday become so popular?

As retailers began to realize they could draw big crowds by discounting prices, Black Friday became the day to shop, even better than those last-minute Christmas sales. Some retailers put their items up for sale on the morning of Thanksgiving, or email online specials to consumers days or weeks before the actual event. The most shopped for items are electronics and popular toys, as these may be the most drastically discounted. However, prices are slashed on everything from home furnishings to apparel.

HAPPY SHOPPING!!

I remember growing up the adults in my family would make us children write a list of everything we were thankful for. Although it's important for children to be reminded of the many blessings they may have, I think it is an even more important exercise as an adult with the amount of stressors in our day-to-day lives. This Thanksgiving make that list and hold on to it, so whenever you're feeling unfulfilled over the next year you can refer to it as a reminder.

Hope those who are traveling arrive safely and that everyone has an amazing day with family and friends tomorrow. And don't forget to feast!