Why is the day after thanksgiving called black friday?

Black Friday refers to the beginning of the period in which retailers are in the black (i.e., turning a profit).

Black Friday was when retailers went from being unprofitable, or in the red, to being profitable, or in the black.

Black Friday is one of the most profitable days in retail. The opposite of operating in the red, hence "black friday".

Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving in which retailers make enough sales to put themselves "into the black ink."

It refers to the store's bank accounts. Stores may be "in the red" all year and Black Friday brings them back "in the black".

The day after Thanksgiving is when retailers become profitable.Businesses once recorded losses in red and gains in black ink.

It's the day holiday shopping begins and the stores go out of the “red� and into the “black� on their profit and loss statements.

Black Friday is official start to the holiday shopping season when stores are looking to increase sales (black) vs in hole (red).

It is called Black Friday because for many stores it will be the first time that year they run in the black. AKA make a profit.