What was the original meaning of the term 'Black Friday' before it became associated with post-Thanksgiving shopping?

Black Friday has become a global shopping phenomenon, but how much do you really know about its origins? This trivia question explores the history behind one of retail's biggest revenue-generating events. While many consumers associate it with post-Thanksgiving sales and doorbusters, the term has a fascinating backstory that reveals much about the evolution of modern retail economics and consumer behavior patterns.

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A stock market crash in the 1800s that occurred on a Friday
A term used by Philadelphia police in the 1950s to describe the chaotic traffic and crowds when shoppers and tourists flooded the city before the Army-Navy game
The day retail stores traditionally moved from operating at a loss ('in the red') to profitability ('in the black') for the year
A marketing campaign created by major department stores in the 1970s to promote post-Thanksgiving sales