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When Is Black Friday In UK 2015 And What Is Black Friday?

When And What Is Black Friday?
Sara C Nelson
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Black Friday. It sounds sinister, like something to be avoided at all costs, but tell that to the thousands of people who will be taking part in Black Friday come 27 November.

It's is a heavily discounted shopping day we’ve imported from the US, falling on the day after Thanksgiving.

The name was originally used in September 1869, when two gold speculators attempted to own the entire market on the New York Stock Exchange. They failed.

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Black Friday means headaches and bargains in equal measure

The result was a government intervention which involved flooding the market with gold, prices plummeted and many investors lost sizeable fortunes. Ouch.

Now it refers to the biggest shopping day of the year. The craze has spread from the US, to Canada and now to Europe.

Black Friday was confirmed as the biggest online shopping day of the year in the UK for the first time in 2014 – with consumers parting with a whopping £810m - far exceeding the predicted spend of £363m.

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Black Friday is immediately followed by Cyber Monday, when further discounts will be offered and the frenzy is expected to continue.

Sadly the madness sometimes culminates in tears, handcuffs and even tragedy. In 2008 a Walmart employee was trampled to death and in 2011 a woman pepper-sprayed rival shoppers over an Xbox.

The darker side of Black Friday...

Black Friday Fails
Nothing comes between me and my TV (01 of03)
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Clinging to a 40 inch flat screen TV, this woman hands down won Black Friday in 2014. At one point she even lost her glasses and furry hat in the skirmishes at Asda’s Wembley superstore, but her single-minded determination paid off (even if she left her pride on the shop floor). (credit:Rex )
The blackest day (02 of03)
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In 2008 a Wal-Mart employee died on Black Friday after an “out of control” mob of frenzied shoppers smashed through the Long Island store’s front doors and trampled him. Jdimytai Damour was seen gasping for airs as shoppers walked over him. Fellow employee Jimmy Overby said: “They took the doors off the hinges. He was trampled and killed in front of me.” At time of publication, a Black Friday death count website lists seven deaths and 98 injuries during the history of the event.
Actual bullshit (03 of03)
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Outrageous card game Cards Against Humanity chose Black Friday to execute a near perfect protest of consumerism by selling actual boxes of bull faeces. Marked ‘bullshit’, the merchandise sold raised an astonishing $180,000 in the stunt, a wry comment on the acres of useless crap many shoppers end up saddled with after the event. (credit:Twitter)
Black Friday Sales
Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s U.K. Asda Supermarket Entices Shoppers With Black Friday Deals(01 of33)
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Customers fall to the floor as they grapple for an LED television during a Black Friday discount sale at an Asda supermarket, operated by Wal-Mart Stores Inc., in the Wembley district of London, U.K., on Friday, Nov. 28, 2014. Black Friday has caught on in the U.K. and worldwide over the last few years as the rise of the Internet has made the event a global phenomenon, with customers always being just one click away from the deals offered by U.S. retailers online. Photographer: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg via Getty Images (credit:Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s U.K. Asda Supermarket Entices Shoppers With Black Friday Deals(02 of33)
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Employees try to control customers as they attempt to get the last remaining LED televisions during a Black Friday discount sale at an Asda supermarket, operated by Wal-Mart Stores Inc., in the Wembley district of London, U.K., on Friday, Nov. 28, 2014. Black Friday has caught on in the U.K. and worldwide over the last few years as the rise of the Internet has made the event a global phenomenon, with customers always being just one click away from the deals offered by U.S. retailers online. Photographer: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg via Getty Images (credit:Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s U.K. Asda Supermarket Entices Shoppers With Black Friday Deals(03 of33)
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Customers queue at a checkout counter to pay for the goods, including an LED television and a toaster, during a Black Friday discount sale at an Asda supermarket, operated by Wal-Mart Stores Inc., in the Wembley district of London, U.K., on Friday, Nov. 28, 2014. Black Friday has caught on in the U.K. and worldwide over the last few years as the rise of the Internet has made the event a global phenomenon, with customers always being just one click away from the deals offered by U.S. retailers online. Photographer: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg via Getty Images (credit:Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s U.K. Asda Supermarket Entices Shoppers With Black Friday Deals(04 of33)
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A customer lifts an LED television above his head after removing it from a display area during a Black Friday discount sale at an Asda supermarket, operated by Wal-Mart Stores Inc., in the Wembley district of London, U.K., on Friday, Nov. 28, 2014. Black Friday has caught on in the U.K. and worldwide over the last few years as the rise of the Internet has made the event a global phenomenon, with customers always being just one click away from the deals offered by U.S. retailers online. Photographer: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg via Getty Images (credit:Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s U.K. Asda Supermarket Entices Shoppers With Black Friday Deals(05 of33)
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Employees try to control customers as they attempt to get the last remaining LED televisions during a Black Friday discount sale at an Asda supermarket, operated by Wal-Mart Stores Inc., in the Wembley district of London, U.K., on Friday, Nov. 28, 2014. Black Friday has caught on in the U.K. and worldwide over the last few years as the rise of the Internet has made the event a global phenomenon, with customers always being just one click away from the deals offered by U.S. retailers online. Photographer: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg via Getty Images (credit:Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s U.K. Asda Supermarket Entices Shoppers With Black Friday Deals(06 of33)
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A customer prepares to load a boxed LED television set into her car after purchasing it during a Black Friday discount sale at an Asda supermarket, operated by Wal-Mart Stores Inc., in the Wembley district of London, U.K., on Friday, Nov. 28, 2014. Black Friday has caught on in the U.K. and worldwide over the last few years as the rise of the Internet has made the event a global phenomenon, with customers always being just one click away from the deals offered by U.S. retailers online. Photographer: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg via Getty Images (credit:Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s U.K. Asda Supermarket Entices Shoppers With Black Friday Deals(07 of33)
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Customers queue to purchase goods including LED televisions during a Black Friday discount sale at an Asda supermarket, operated by Wal-Mart Stores Inc., in the Wembley district of London, U.K., on Friday, Nov. 28, 2014. Black Friday has caught on in the U.K. and worldwide over the last few years as the rise of the Internet has made the event a global phenomenon, with customers always being just one click away from the deals offered by U.S. retailers online. Photographer: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg via Getty Images (credit:Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s U.K. Asda Supermarket Entices Shoppers With Black Friday Deals(08 of33)
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A customer gestures as he queues to purchase goods including an LED televisions during a Black Friday discount sale at an Asda supermarket, operated by Wal-Mart Stores Inc., in the Wembley district of London, U.K., on Friday, Nov. 28, 2014. Black Friday has caught on in the U.K. and worldwide over the last few years as the rise of the Internet has made the event a global phenomenon, with customers always being just one click away from the deals offered by U.S. retailers online. Photographer: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg via Getty Images (credit:Bloomberg via Getty Images)
(09 of33)
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Dated: 28/11/2014BLACK FRIDAY SALES MADNESS AT MIDNIGHTBlack Friday fever hits the stores at midnight where frantic shoppers tear apart crates of TV's and empty the shelves of electrical goods including printers, irons and coffee machines within minutes at the Tesco store in Kingston Park, Newcastle Upon Tyne this morning. (credit:North News)
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Dated: 28/11/2014BLACK FRIDAY SALES MADNESS AT MIDNIGHTBlack Friday fever hits the stores at midnight where frantic shoppers tear apart crates of TV's and empty the shelves of electrical goods including printers, irons and coffee machines within minutes at the Tesco store in Kingston Park, Newcastle Upon Tyne this morning. (credit:North News)
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Shoppers take advantage of the special deals offered during Black Friday at the Asda Superstore in Colindale (credit:WENN)
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Shoppers take advantage of the special deals offered during Black Friday at the Asda Superstore in Colindale (credit:WENN)
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Shoppers take advantage of the special deals offered during Black Friday at the Asda Superstore in Colindale (credit:WENN)
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The first shoppers at Tesco Grimsby (credit:WENN)
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The first shoppers at Tesco Grimsby (credit:WENN)
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The first shoppers at Tesco Grimsby (credit:WENN)
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The first shoppers at Tesco Grimsby (credit:WENN)
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The first shoppers at Tesco Grimsby (credit:WENN)
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Customers fighting over discounted large television sets Black Friday Sales at Asda Wembley Superstore, London, Britain (credit:Ray Tang/Rex)
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Customers fighting over discounted large television sets Black Friday Sales at Asda Wembley Superstore, London, Britain (credit:Ray Tang/Rex)
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Customers fighting over discounted large television sets Black Friday Sales at Asda Wembley Superstore, London, Britain (credit:Ray Tang/Rex)
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Customers fighting over discounted large television sets Black Friday Sales at Asda Wembley Superstore, London, Britain (credit:Ray Tang/Rex)
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Customers fighting over discounted large television sets Black Friday Sales at Asda Wembley Superstore, London, Britain (credit:Ray Tang/Rex)
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Customers fighting over discounted large television sets Black Friday Sales at Asda Wembley Superstore, London, Britain (credit:Ray Tang/Rex)
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Customers fighting over discounted large television sets Black Friday Sales at Asda Wembley Superstore, London, Britain (credit:Ray Tang/Rex)
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Customers fighting over discounted large television sets Black Friday Sales at Asda Wembley Superstore, London, Britain (credit:Ray Tang/Rex)
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Customers fighting over discounted large television sets Black Friday Sales at Asda Wembley Superstore, London, Britain (credit:Ray Tang/Rex)
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Customers fighting over discounted large television sets Black Friday Sales at Asda Wembley Superstore, London, Britain (credit:Ray Tang/Rex)
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Customers fighting over discounted large television sets Black Friday Sales at Asda Wembley Superstore, London, Britain (credit:Ray Tang/Rex)
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Customers fighting over discounted large television sets Black Friday Sales at Asda Wembley Superstore, London, Britain (credit:Ray Tang/Rex)
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Customers fighting over discounted large television sets Black Friday Sales at Asda Wembley Superstore, London, Britain (credit:Ray Tang/Rex)
Black Friday(32 of33)
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Shoppers queue outside a branch of Foot Locker on Oxford Street, London, as many retailers offer one day sales for 'Black Friday'. (credit:Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire)
Black Friday(33 of33)
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Shoppers queue outside a branch of Foot Locker on Oxford Street, London, as many retailers offer one day sales for 'Black Friday'. (credit:Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire)
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