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CheckoutEtymology
The phrase “Black Friday” first described financial crises, such as the Wall Street panic of 24 September 1869 caused by a collapse in the price of gold. For the day after Thanksgiving, the name was used in the 1950s by the Philadelphia police traffic division because of the huge traffic jams and crowds of shoppers. Local merchants tried to rebrand it as “Big Friday”, but journalists and television made “Black Friday” stick. The popular explanation that the name comes from retailers going “into the black” (into profit) is a later reinterpretation that only spread in the 1980s.
History and spread
From a local Philadelphia nickname, the term gradually became nationwide in the US, and the sale on the Friday after Thanksgiving became the unofficial start of Christmas shopping. With the growth of online retail in the 2000s and 2010s, the tradition spread beyond the US: today Black Friday deals are offered by online and physical shops across Europe, Asia and Ukraine, and the sale often stretches over a whole week.
Cyber Monday
Cyber Monday is the Monday after Thanksgiving, a day of online sales. The term appeared in 2005, when people returned to work and fast internet connections after the weekend and carried on shopping online. In 2026, Cyber Monday falls on 30 November.
Black Friday in Ukraine
Ukrainian retailers have held Black Friday sales since 2013. It is not an official holiday, but this week brings the year's peak in discounts; some chains start as early as 20–24 November and extend their deals to Cyber Monday. Terms may differ between a store's website, app and physical shops. For online purchases, the 14-day right to return or exchange goods of proper quality starts when you receive the parcel, not when you pay.
Criticism
Black Friday is criticised for artificial price rises before the sale: a shop raises a price and then “cuts” it back to the usual level, creating an illusion of a bargain. Shoppers are therefore advised to note prices of the items they want in advance and compare them during the sale.
Black Friday at N-SHOES
In 2026 the N-SHOES sale runs from 24 to 30 November: 15% to 50% off over 1,000 branded footwear models for women and men, the promo code FRIDAY, free delivery for online orders paid on the website, and try-on at the Nova Poshta branch before paying.



















