Thanksgiving

[xilman]

Originally Posted by ewmayer

Learning about Black Friday from Google Trends

Besides the data analysis based on US-based searches, also mentions several other countries where retailers have established similar "consumer holidays".

This year was the first, AFAIK, that the specific term "Black Friday" entered the general consciousness in the UK. The likes of Amazon and Asda (the UK arm of Walmart) began the trend around 3 to 4 years ago.

SWMBO now keeps asking me why Black Friday...

[only_human]

Originally Posted by xilman

SWMBO now keeps asking me why Black Friday...

Why Is Black Friday Called Black Friday?

This was first recorded in 1966 by Earl Apfelbaum, a dealer in rare stamps. In his ad, he said "'Black Friday' is the name that the Philadelphia Police Department gave to the Friday following Thanksgiving Day. It is not a term of endearment to them. 'Black Friday' officially opens the Christmas shopping season in center city, and it usually brings massive traffic jams and over-crowded sidewalks as the downtown stores are mobbed from opening to closing."

The Police Department coined the phrase to describe the mayhem surrounding the congestion of pedestrian and auto traffic in the Center City downtown area. (Source: The Chicago Tribune, "Black Friday - Why and When?)

When Black Friday Became a Positive Name

Retailers did not appreciate the negative connotation associated with a black day of the week.

[...]

No wonder retailers wanted to make the name "Black Friday" mean something positive. And, to them, the Friday after Thanksgiving is a very profitable day. To compensate, they decided to follow the old adage, "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em."

They used the name to reflect their success. Accountants generally use black to signify profit when recording each day's book entries. Red is used to signify loss. Therefore, Black Friday means profitable Friday to retailing and to the economy.

[xilman]

Originally Posted by only_human

Why Is Black Friday Called Black Friday?[...]

Thanks.

The term which is becoming enormoulsy popular here is "Cyber Monday" --- today.

[ewmayer]

Heavy Police Presence Planned for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade | NYT

As an expected three million spectators turn their eyes skyward on Thursday morning, police sharpshooters on rooftops will be peering down for any signs of trouble at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

In addition to Snoopy and SpongeBob floating overhead, there will be mobile cameras and police helicopters, specially trained police dogs sniffing for traces of explosives and officers patrolling on horseback, said James P. O’Neill, the New York Police Department’s chief of department, its highest-ranking uniformed officer.

Observation posts, staffed by officers from the elite Emergency Service Unit, will be watching for suspicious activity; officers will use radiation detectors to seek out evidence of a dirty bomb; and teams of plainclothes officers will mix unobtrusively with revelers spread along the two and a half miles of the Manhattan parade route between 9 a.m. and noon.

Just remember that "they hate us for our freedoms" as you submit to being forcibly groped, full-body-scanned and facially-recognized by the TSA prior to your next flight.

[kladner]

Originally Posted by ewmayer

Heavy Police Presence Planned for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade | NYT

Just remember that "they hate us for our freedoms" as you submit to being forcibly groped, full-body-scanned and facially-recognized by the TSA prior to your next flight.

Sigh.

[davar55]

Originally Posted by xilman

YHBT
YHL
HTH
HAND

A hint, please?

[xilman]

Originally Posted by davar55

A hint, please?

Certainly. Here it is:

[Dubslow]

Originally Posted by davar55

A hint, please?

I literally just googled that.

[VictordeHolland]

The Mediamarkt (consumer electronics retailer) in the Netherlands has also started using Black Friday for marketing purposes. But the 'special deals' are not discounted that much.
Thanksgiving is not celebrated in the Netherlands (OMG no turkey ), we do however have Saint Nicholas on 5-6 december on which Santa Claus is loosely based.

[Brian-E]

Originally Posted by VictordeHolland

Thanksgiving is not celebrated in the Netherlands (OMG no turkey ), we do however have Saint Nicholas on 5-6 december on which Santa Claus is loosely based.

And we have his little helpers too.
Unfortunately their traditional appearance is not viewed by everyone as entirely PC anymore. I'm personally glad to see that they have been replaced by Minions in Utrecht this year, though maybe I should confine my views on the subject to the Soap Box here.

[kladner]

Originally Posted by Brian-E

And we have his little helpers too.
Unfortunately their traditional appearance is not viewed by everyone as entirely PC anymore. I'm personally glad to see that they have been replaced by Minions in Utrecht this year, though maybe I should confine my views on the subject to the Soap Box here.

Is Zwarte Piet in any way related to Krampus?