🖤 Black Friday 的由來：從塞車日變成全美瘋狂購物日
每年感恩節過後的 Black Friday（黑色星期五）都是全美最瘋狂的購物日。但你知道嗎？它的名字一開始其實不是什麼便宜好康，而是來自「交通大塞車」與「警察快被忙死」的黑暗一天。
📌 一開始的 Black Friday：不是折扣，是「崩潰」
1950～1960 年代的費城，在感恩節隔天會舉辦 Army-Navy 美式足球競賽。大量外地人湧入市中心購物、塞車、亂停車，讓警察、司機和工作人員累到爆。
於是大家開始叫這一天：Black Friday（黑色星期五）＝又亂又忙的一天。
📌 商家神操作：把負面字眼變成「賺錢日」
1970 年代以後，商家覺得 Black Friday 名字雖然黑，但很好記。於是開始重新包裝：
- 紅字（Red Ink）＝虧錢
- 黑字（Black Ink）＝開始盈利
於是宣傳變成：Black Friday 是商家從「虧損」轉成「賺錢」的一天。這個說法太好記，也剛好搭上聖誕節購物旺季，就這樣爆紅起來。
📌 為什麼 Black Friday 越來越誇張？
從最早的折扣 → 凌晨開門 → 排隊搶購 → 網購加入 → Cyber Monday 誕生
現在甚至直接變成：
Black Week（黑人週）→ Black Month（黑人月）
商家基本上整個 11 月都在打折。
🦃 火雞很難吃？你不是唯一這樣覺得！
很多美國人自己都說：
“Thanksgiving food is mid.”（感恩節食物普遍普通）
火雞本身比較乾，加上 stuffing、蔓越莓醬、玉米麵包容易踩雷，所以大部分人覺得這不是美食節日，而是重在家人團聚的傳統。
📌 小提醒：Black Friday 詐騙也跟著變多
每年 11 月都會有大量折扣詐騙、假網站、假廣告。購物前記得確認：
- 是否為官方網站
- 不要點陌生人私訊的連結
- 避免在不明網站輸入信用卡
延伸閱讀：如何預防殺豬盤｜Romance Scam 防詐指南
🎁 總結
Black Friday 從塞車日 → 變成全美購物季開跑日，背後其實是一場行銷與文化習慣的演變。無論你是想撿便宜還是單純看看熱鬧，都能從它的歷史中看到美國消費文化的崛起。
🖤 Black Friday: From Traffic Chaos to America’s Biggest Shopping Day
Black Friday—the day after Thanksgiving—is now known as the biggest shopping day in the United States. But surprisingly, the term originally had nothing to do with discounts or holiday sales.
📌 The Original Black Friday: A Day of Chaos
In the 1950s and 1960s, Philadelphia hosted the Army–Navy football game on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Thousands of visitors flooded the city, causing massive traffic jams, illegal parking, and crowded stores.
Local police officers and bus drivers started calling the day “Black Friday” because it was exhausting and chaotic.
📌 How Retailers Rebranded It into a Positive Term
By the 1970s, retailers realized the name was catchy. They redefined it using accounting terms:
- Red ink = losing money
- Black ink = making a profit
So they promoted Black Friday as the day when stores finally “went into the black.” This rebranding was wildly successful and became part of holiday shopping culture.
📌 Why Black Friday Became Such a Big Deal
Discounts → Early-morning openings → Doorbuster sales → Online shopping → Cyber Monday
Today, it has evolved into:
Black Week → Black Month
Many retailers now run promotions throughout November.
🦃 And About That Thanksgiving Turkey…
Many Americans jokingly admit:
“Thanksgiving food is mid.”
Turkey is naturally dry, stuffing and cranberry sauce can be hit-or-miss, and the meal is more about tradition and family than gourmet cuisine.
📌 Quick Safety Note: Beware of Black Friday Scams
Fake deals and scam websites peak during this season. Always double-check:
- Official URLs
- Suspicious email links
- Unfamiliar online stores
Related article: How to Avoid Romance Scams
🎁 Conclusion
From a chaotic day in Philadelphia to a massive retail tradition, Black Friday reflects the evolution of American shopping culture. Whether you love deals or simply enjoy people-watching, its history is far more colorful than its name suggests.