Black Friday is a major shopping event on the Friday following Thanksgiving Day in the United States.
It is celebrated all over the world to help businesses boost sales and clear out inventory before the end of the year. Retailers often offer significant discounts and promotions to attract customers and compete with other businesses during this highly anticipated event.Â
The name “Black Friday” originated from the idea that the day helps businesses move “into the black,” meaning they make a profit instead of a loss.
Over time, it has grown into a global shopping phenomenon, with many countries adopting their versions of Black Friday sales. From the UK’s “Black Friday Week” to Australia’s “Click Frenzy,” each country puts its unique spin on the sales event.Â
Let’s explore the different ways Black Friday is observed internationally and how businesses tailor their promotions to attract customers in various markets.Â
How is Black Friday celebrated around the world?
The celebration of Black Friday differs from one country to another, with some countries embracing the shopping frenzy with discounts and deals, while others may not participate in the tradition at all. Let’s have a look:Â
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United States
In the United States, Black Friday is celebrated as a significant retail holiday occurring on the day after Thanksgiving, marking the unofficial start of the Christmas shopping season.Â
Traditionally, it is characterised by extensive sales and promotions across various retail sectors, including electronics, clothing, and home goods. Many stores open their doors early in the morning, with some even starting their sales on Thanksgiving evening.Â
Shoppers often line up outside stores hours in advance to secure limited-time deals on popular items, known as “doorbusters.” Major brands such as Walmart, Target, Amazon, Best Buy, and Macy’s heavily participate in Black Friday sales, offering significant discounts to attract customers.Â
Walmart has been known to kick off its sales on Thanksgiving evening, setting a precedent that many other retailers follow. In 2024, Black Friday sales are anticipated to reach an impressive $10.8 billion, marking a 9.9% increase from the previous year’s total of $9.8 billion.
Canada
In Canada, Black Friday has become a significant part of the holiday shopping season, evolving from its origins as a post-Thanksgiving event in the United States.Â
Canadians initially resisted the adoption of Black Friday, but by 2008, many retailers began to offer their sales to compete with American deals, especially as cross-border shopping became popular.
In recent years, Black Friday has transformed into a month-long event in Canada. This year, it is anticipated that around 60% of Canadians will participate in Black Friday sales, reflecting a growing trend towards online shopping and early deals.Â
Major brands like Walmart, Best Buy, Staples Canada, Apple, Lululemon, Levi’s, Nike, Old Navy, and more offer extensive deals and substantial sitewide discounts across various categories, including electronics, tech products, home goods, and clothing.
In 2024, it is projected that around 60% of Canadians will partake in Black Friday sales, reflecting a growing trend towards embracing this shopping event. Â
Mexico
In Mexico, Black Friday is celebrated through a nationwide shopping event known as El Buen Fin (The Good Weekend), which takes place annually the weekend before Mexican Revolution Day, typically in mid-November.Â
Initiated in 2011, El Buen Fin aims to stimulate the economy by encouraging consumer spending and providing extensive discounts across a wide range of products and services.Â
Major brands participating in this event include well-known retailers such as Amazon, Walmart, Liverpool, Coppel, Best Buy, and Sephora, among others. These companies offer discounts on a variety of products, ranging from electronics and fashion to home goods.
In previous years, sales during El Buen Fin have reached impressive figures; for instance, in 2019, sales amounted to approximately MXN 118 billion (around $6 billion). For 2024, it is anticipated that participation will remain high, with millions expected to take part in the sales.
Black Friday Celebration in Other Notable Countries
|
Country |
Description |
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South America |
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Brazil |
Adopted since 2010, although often involves price inflation in promotions. |
|
Colombia |
Introduced in 2014 with significant participation from local retailers. |
|
Costa Rica |
Known as Viernes Negro, celebrated with discounts by major retailers. |
|
Europe |
|
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Belgium |
Marked by strong marketing since 2016, with increasing participation from online shops and brick-and-mortar stores. |
|
Denmark |
Widely practiced, with various retailers offering significant discounts. |
|
Finland |
Very popular, with many retailers participating in sales events. |
|
Germany |
Known as “Black Week,” sales last an entire week, though discounts are not always significantly deeper than usual. |
|
Greece |
Gained popularity in 2016; many retailers offer special promotions during this period. |
|
Ireland |
Introduced in 2014; increasingly adopted by both small and large retailers. |
|
Latvia |
Became widely popular in 2017 with extensive sales events in shopping centres over a weekend. |
|
Liechtenstein |
A joint sales initiative by online vendors, marking a major shopping event since 2013. |
|
Netherlands |
Seriously introduced in 2015; rapidly grown in popularity with over 166 participating stores in recent years. |
|
Norway |
Started as a publicity stunt in 2010 and has grown into a major shopping event each year. |
|
Poland |
Growing interest; many retailers participate with special offers during this shopping event. |
|
Romania |
Imported by eMAG and Flanco in 2011; has become a significant shopping day with extensive participation. |
|
Spain |
Gained traction since 2015; small retailers initially participated, followed by larger ones over the years. |
|
Sweden |
Widely practised with numerous retailers offering discounts across various sectors. |
|
Switzerland |
Beginning in 2015; most Swiss retailers now participate, often extending promotions beyond just one day. |
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Turkey |
Known as Efsane Cuma (“Legendary Friday”), it features substantial discounts across various products and is very popular. |
|
Ukraine |
Introduced in 2016; many retailers engage consumers with special promotions during this period. |
|
Asia |
|
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India |
Influenced many retailers to run promotional events similar to the US in November. |
|
China |
While not traditionally celebrated, significant sales events occur around the same time as Black Friday. |
|
Pakistan |
In Pakistan, the term “Black Friday” was introduced in 2014 but later changed to “Blessed Friday” for religious and cultural reasons. This change was widely accepted across all communities, and the shopping festival is now celebrated annually with enthusiasm throughout the country. |
|
Japan |
Adopted for electronics sales with various discounts offered by retailers. |
|
Saudi Arabia |
Local adaptation with years of sales led to significant discounts during this period. |
|
Saudi Arabia |
In Saudi Arabia, Black Friday began when a local e-commerce platform, noon.com, launched the Yellow Friday Sale, which has since become an annual event. |
|
United Arab Emirates |
Known as Yellow Friday, primarily an online shopping event featuring major discounts and promotions. |
|
Africa |
|
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South Africa |
Participating stores run deals and promotions, heavily promoted since its introduction. |
|
Nigeria |
Popularised by local e-commerce platforms with discounts and promotions since 2014. |
|
Egypt |
Launched as White Friday, adapted to fit local traditions in 2014. |
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Oceania |
|
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Australia |
Gaining popularity since around 2015, many retailers offer significant discounts during this period. |
|
New Zealand |
Introduced in 2013; major retailers such as The Warehouse, Noel Leeming, and Harvey Norman offered Black Friday sales, and by 2018 they were joined by Farmers, JB Hi-Fi, Briscoes, and Rebel Sport. |
Source: Forbes
Black Friday is now celebrated worldwide, not just in the United States. Many countries, like Canada, the UK, India, and Australia, have adopted this shopping tradition.Â
Retailers in these places offer big discounts, both in stores and online, to attract customers. In some countries, Black Friday lasts more than a day, extending into the weekend or even a full week of sales.Â
Online shopping has made it easier for people everywhere to join in, with websites offering special deals and free shipping.Â
While the way it’s celebrated might differ—some places focus on in-store events, while others prefer online sales—the excitement of finding great bargains has made Black Friday a global shopping event everyone looks forward to.
Also Read| Black Friday 2024: Why Is It Celebrated? History, Significance and Cultural Importance
