Have you ever wondered why the Friday after Thanksgiving is called Black Friday?
It’s not the reason most people think. The actual story is much more complicated – and somewhat amusing.
In this episode of the Money Metals’ Midweek Memo, host Mike Maharrey explains the evolution of the term “Black Friday and teaches some economics along the way.
He also highlights the release of the 2026 Sound Money Index.
Mike opens the show, declaring that it is Black Friday.
Wait, you might be thinking if you’re listening to this on the day it comes out. It’s not Black Friday. It’s Wednesday.
“Yeah. I know that. But it’s still Black Friday. Yesterday was Black Friday. Tomorrow will be Black Friday. Heck, last week was Black Friday. And on Friday, it will still be Black Friday.
“I’m not going to lie. I kind of miss the days when Black Friday was just one day. You know, on a Friday. AFTER Thanksgiving.
“I know; I’m getting old. Old people tend to have a fondness for nostalgia. But am I really being unreasonable? I just don’t think we need to start Christmas the day after Halloween.
“Oh well. Nobody asked me.
“So, you see what kind of show it’s going to be, don’t you?”
Mike explains that he was in Washington, D.C. over the weekend, and laments the fact that he didn’t have time to swing by the Eccles Building “where central bankers decide how much to devalue your money” every month or so. That reminds him of a really good explanation of inflation he heard from a friend.
“I find it extremely helpful to see inflation as ‘the purchasing power of currency decreasing’ rather than ‘prices increasing.’ From that point, I can ask the right question. Rather than ‘Why did Safeway raise the price of milk?’ I can ask, ‘Why can my $2 no longer be traded for a gallon of milk?’ All things equal, the amount of resources and labor involved in producing a gallon of milk didn’t change. It’s the value of the money that changed. Why?”
Mike then pivots back to the subject of Black Friday.
“As I noted to open the show, the fact that Black Friday is now Black November and December irks me. The irony of my getting worked up enough about this to talk about it is that I never really liked Black Friday. I can best demonstrate this by telling you what I never did on Black Friday.
“Leave the house. “
Mike reminisces about his Mom and Grandmother doing all of their Christmas shopping on Black Friday and his experience working in retail on the day after Thanksgiving. He then tackles the origin of the term “Black Friday.”
“So, do you know why they call it Black Friday? Because it’s an awful day. I’m not kidding.”
As Mike explains, the term was first used in the early 1950s due to the number of workers who called in sick the day after Thanksgiving. Around the same time, Philadelphia police began using the moniker due to the awful traffic as shoppers flocked to stores to kick off the holiday shopping season.
Unsurprisingly, retailers weren’t thrilled by the negative connotations, so they tried to rebrand the term Black Friday to make it more positive.
“You have probably heard that they call it Black Friday because it was traditionally the busiest shopping day of the year, and sales on the day after Thanksgiving typically got retailers out of ‘the red’ and into ‘the black’ financially for the first time during the year. But this is pretty much propaganda put out by the retail industry because they didn’t want negative connotations attached to what was once one of the most important days of the year.”
You see? It’s called Black Friday because it really is an awful day!
“Well, anyway, enjoy Black Friday in whatever manner you choose. If you do go out, I’ll remember you as you were. And a friendly reminder — be considerate of your fellow shoppers. Say you’re sorry as you shove people out of the way. And make sure you turn your phone horizontally before you video any Black Friday fist-fights! And if you’re like me and don’t want to go out, you could sit at your desk and buy your loved ones the gift of money. No. Not the worthless paper printed by the government. I’m talking about gold and silver! Check out our https://www.moneymetals.com/buy/specials">Black Friday Specials.”
Before closing out the show, Mike announces https://www.moneymetals.com/news/2025/11/25/wyoming-idaho-and-missouri-top-the-2026-sound-money-index-004505" rel=”noreferrer”>the release of the 2026 Sound Money Index.
“The Sound Money Index put out by the Sound Money Defense League in partnership with Money Metals. The index ranks all 50 states using more than a dozen criteria to determine which states have the most pro- and anti-sound money policies in the country.”
Mike emphasizes the importance of a state-level policy legislative strategy, pointing out that it can often drive change at the federal level in a bottom-up approach. And even if it doesn’t lead to federal reforms, taking down state barriers to buying, holding, and selling precious metals will make it easier for people to shield themselves from pernicious federal monetary policy.
He closes the show with a call to action, emphasizing that money creation is the engine that drives big government, and inflation is a matter of policy. This won’t likely change. That’s why you need to save in real money — gold and silver. He urges listeners to call 800-800-1865 and talk to a precious metals specialist today.
Articles Mentioned in the Show
https://www.moneymetals.com/resources/sound-money-index" rel=”noreferrer”>2026 Sound Money Index
https://www.moneymetals.com/news/2024/01/12/common-definition-of-inflation-you-hear-today-is-wrong-government-propaganda-002925" rel=”noreferrer”>The Common Definition of Inflation Is Wrong!
