Curiosity: How did Black Friday turn into a month-long holiday?

At the strike of midnight on Halloween, all the ghouls and goblins give their buddies in retail and e-comm a call to let them know it's their time to shine. With every marketing coordinator itching to hit publish on their recycled black friday ads, it's an adrenaline rush.

But we were curious, how did Black Friday turn into a month-long holiday? Is it even a holiday?

It used to be this one-day frenzy of shopping that started ON FRIDAY. Then it crept up and began on Thanksgiving, usually around 5pm when everyone was ready for their post-dinner nap. But now, Black Friday has decided to make November its personal playground. Let's check the timeline of events and figure out how we got here.

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*BRB. Just got a Black Friday text for a smoking hot deal on a new TV. Only four left!

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Once Upon a Time

Remember when Black Friday was just, well, a Friday? It was the day when you'd wake up early (or camp out overnight) to storm the stores, pushing people aside to grab those (what seemed like) jaw-dropping deals.

Then, retailers started seeing green.

The Digital Takeover

Online shopping changed the game. Black Friday went digital (along with Cyber Monday). Now you could snag deals without leaving your house. Pajamas, hot cocoa, and deals? Sounds like a good time to me.

We were sold on the idea of holiday shopping from our couches and some people grew tired of the midnight chaos, or the 5am rush. So, retailers decided, "Why not stretch it out over several weeks?"

They got creative, introducing "Pre-Black Friday" sales, "Countdown to Black Friday" events, and "Black Friday Week." November was like the opening act for the main event. These deals weren't usually as good as the actual Friday deals, though.

You can still get those "doorbuster deals" at midnight, though! And a week before Thanksgiving. And on Cyber Monday. And maybe even today?

I'm not hating on the month-long specials. I enjoy it, actually. I just wish the deals were actually good. More often that not you'll find something marked as a "doorbuster", or "flash sale", only to find the same deal in mid-December. Or mid-January.

The evolution of Black Firday really boils down to three things, in my opinion:

• Money, money, money

• The rise of online shopping

• People getting annoyed that they would have to go shopping on Thanksgiving day to get the best deals

So, here we are. Black Friday has taken over November. It's not just a day; it's a month-long retail extravaganza. Whether you're shopping on the 1st, the 15th, or the 30th of November, just remember to have fun, snag those deals, and enjoy the shopping spectacle. After all, it's all about the thrill of the hunt, right?

Stay curious.