What: A review of how Black Friday became a worldwide phenomenon.

Why it is important: The promotional campaign is strategically located in the calendar in terms of timing for retailers, both offline and online

Thanksgiving, a uniquely American holiday, has its post-celebration shopping spree, Black Friday, now recognized globally as a major retail event. Initially confined to the US, Black Friday has spread worldwide, reaching Canada in 2008, the UK in 2010, and Australia and New Zealand by 2013. It has even gained traction in culturally protective France and is popular in countries like Germany and Brazil.

This global adoption can be attributed to two main factors: globalization, particularly with the rise of social media, making consumers globally aware of trends and events, and its convenient timing for retailers, intentionally placed to boost holiday sales. The concept has been adapted locally in places like Mexico with "El Buen Fin" and the Middle East with "White Friday."

The phenomenon of Black Friday has expanded beyond a single day to a month-long "sale-a-bration," starting with pre-sales in late October and extending to Cyber Monday and beyond. This evolution helps retailers by pulling sales forward and easing last-minute delivery pressures for online shopping.

Black Friday isn't the only event to cross borders. China's "Singles' Day," initially an anti-Valentine's celebration, has become the world's largest retail event under Alibaba's influence. Meanwhile, Halloween, another American tradition, is rapidly becoming a global commercial holiday, with significant spending increases in countries like the UK and Australia.

‘Le Black Friday’: How an American tradition spread around the world