(WHTM)– It’s an American tradition for millions of shoppers to crowd lines in front of stores for a chance to get their hands on all the hottest products and deals the day after Thanksgiving. Black Friday has become a staple of American consumer culture, but did you know the name originated in Pennsylvania?

According to Britannica, a common misconception about the origins of the name “Black Friday” is that it comes from the concept that businesses operate at a financial loss until the day after Thanksgiving. After Thanksgiving, businesses are in “the red.” However, when the massive sales hit, businesses turn a profit, putting them back in “the black.”

Well, Britannica says this isn’t entirely true.

The name “Black Friday,” like many things American, originated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. According to Britannica, in the 1960s, Philadelphia Police officers began using the term “Black Friday” to describe the chaos that resulted when a crowd of suburban tourists swarmed the city to shop for the holidays and attend the Army-Navy football game.

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The crowds swarmed, giving police problems, causing them to work longer shifts than usual as they dealt with traffic, accidents, shoplifting, and a host of other issues, Britannica said.

While police coined the now-holiday a sinister name in the city, local merchants attempted to put a lighthearted twist on it by calling it “big Friday.”

However, the name given to the holiday by the police seemed to stick. Britannica said it wasn’t until the 1980s that the term “Black Friday” was used nationwide to signify a positive boost in retail sales.

The term’s darker roots have largely been forgotten in recent years, according to History.com, as it is now believed to have connections to stores moving from “in the red” to “in the black.”

The holiday has now sparked other “retail holidays,” including Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday.

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