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'''Black Friday''' is the popular name given to the day after [[Thanksgiving]], which is always a [[Friday]] and is a [[holiday]]. Black Friday got its name because it has historically been the day when stores break into profitability for the full year. In recent years, the day has become the most popular day of the year to [[shopping|shop]] and [[retailer]]s have reported record [[profit]]s. Many people take advantage of this holiday as an opportunity to do all their [[Christmas]] shopping.

'''Black Friday''' is the popular name given to the day after [[Thanksgiving]], which is always a [[Friday]] and is a [[holiday]]. Black Friday got its name because it has historically been the day when stores break into profitability for the full year, so that they are "in the black" rather than "in the red". In recent years, the day has become the most popular day of the year to [[shopping|shop]] and [[retailer]]s have reported record [[profit]]s. Many people take advantage of this holiday as an opportunity to do all their [[Christmas]] shopping.

The media has exaggerated the nature of Black Friday to denigrate Christmas, saying people have become obsessed with shopping and [[commercialism]]. To be sure, [[fad]]s for certain [[toy]]s have led to rushes on stores, sometimes with unfortunate consequences.<ref>[http://www.newsday.com/news/local/ny-limart1129,0,7044659,print.story Walmart worker dies in Black Friday stampede"]</ref> Yet Black Friday is a [[statistical anomaly]] and it is statistically unsound to generalize about the Christmas season based on the behavior on this one day. Black Friday is one of the few holidays many people have before Christmas, so responsible people will make the most of this day to get their shopping finished a month early. The number of shoppers on Black Friday is far more than any other day of the year, so those numbers are "representative" is misleading. Furthermore, the media often ignore that shopping helps fuel the economy and that the purpose of this activity is Christmas, a Christian holiday which the majority of Americans celebrate. In comparison, the media makes no furor over the number of roses sold on [[Valentine's Day]] or turkeys sold on [[Thanksgiving]], saying these are unhealthy obsessions. The exaggerations of Black Friday are likely another aspect of the [[War on Christmas]].

The media has exaggerated the nature of Black Friday to denigrate Christmas, saying people have become obsessed with shopping and [[commercialism]]. To be sure, [[fad]]s for certain [[toy]]s have led to rushes on stores, sometimes with unfortunate consequences.<ref>[http://www.newsday.com/news/local/ny-limart1129,0,7044659,print.story Walmart worker dies in Black Friday stampede"]</ref> Yet Black Friday is a [[statistical anomaly]] and it is statistically unsound to generalize about the Christmas season based on the behavior on this one day. Black Friday is one of the few holidays many people have before Christmas, so responsible people will make the most of this day to get their shopping finished a month early. The number of shoppers on Black Friday is far more than any other day of the year, so those numbers are "representative" is misleading. Furthermore, the media often ignore that shopping helps fuel the economy and that the purpose of this activity is Christmas, a Christian holiday which the majority of Americans celebrate. In comparison, the media makes no furor over the number of roses sold on [[Valentine's Day]] or turkeys sold on [[Thanksgiving]], saying these are unhealthy obsessions. The exaggerations of Black Friday are likely another aspect of the [[War on Christmas]].