1) Myth: The term Black Friday originated from the 1800s practice of selling slaves at a discount the day after Thanksgiving.
Why it spreads: Viral social media misinformation and fake historical memes designed to spark emotional outrage.
2) Myth: Black Friday was a name invented by retailers in the 1980s to represent the day they finally moved from 'the red' into 'the black' (profit).
Why it spreads: Corporate public relations efforts to rebrand the term's negative connotations into a positive economic narrative.
3) Myth: The name refers to a specific stock market crash that occurred on the Friday following Thanksgiving in the early 20th century.
Why it spreads: Historical confusion with the 1869 gold market collapse, which was the original 'Black Friday' but unrelated to shopping.
4) Myth: Black Friday was coined by factory managers in the 1950s because so many workers called in sick to extend their holiday weekend.
Why it spreads: Misinterpretation of an article in a 1951 industrial trade journal regarding worker absenteeism.
5) Myth: The day is called Black Friday because of the massive power outages or 'blackouts' caused by the sheer volume of store lights and decorations.
Why it spreads: Urban legends exaggerating the technological strain of holiday retail operations.
6) Myth: The term was originally a religious designation similar to Good Friday, marking a day of penance before the Christmas season.
Why it spreads: Linguistic patterns where 'Black' or 'Good' combined with 'Friday' are assumed to share a common liturgical origin.
7) Myth: Philadelphia police called it Black Friday because shoppers used to wear black clothing to stay warm while waiting in early morning lines.
Why it spreads: Folk etymology attempting to provide a literal visual reason for the color association.
8) Myth: It is called Black Friday because newspapers used so much black ink to print the massive volume of holiday advertisements.
Why it spreads: A logical leap connecting the physical production of newspapers to the name of the event.
9) Myth: The name was created by the Department of Transportation to warn citizens about the high rate of fatal traffic accidents on that day.
Why it spreads: The actual origin involved traffic congestion, but it was exaggerated into a government-mandated safety warning.
10) Myth: Black Friday is a global term that has been used by all cultures for centuries to mark the start of the winter solstice trade.
Why it spreads: The globalization of American consumer culture leading people to believe the term has ancient or universal roots.
