Modern Rituals
Black Friday's Dark Roots: How a Day of Police Chaos Became a Global Shopping Spree
What is the true meaning of Black Friday? It has two dark origins. First, the 1869 crash of the U.S. gold market. Second, and more relevantly, it was a slang term used by Philadelphia police in the 1950s to describe the 'black' misery of managing traffic gridlock and crowds during the post-Thanksgiving rush.
Discover the true, gritty history of Black Friday. It wasn't about profits; it was about a gold market crash and a police department pushed to the brink.
January 10, 2026 • By Lars Jansen