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You may have noticed signs and adverts online and in shops talking about Black Friday offers.

But do you know what it means and why it's happening?

Well, originally Black Friday was a day where shoppers can buy some items at a much lower price for 24 hours.

It was designed by shops and other retailers to encourage people to start spending in the run-up to Christmas - and it's usually one of the busiest shopping days of the year.

The day originally started in the United States all the way back in 1952 and was set on the first Friday that followed Thanksgiving Day.

In 2024, Black Friday is on 30 November but these days lots shops of shops start their sales before Black Friday and now they carry on afterwards for a week, or even more.

There's lots of debate on how Black Friday got its name.

Some say it is named after a big financial crash in Wall Street in New York in 1869.

While others claim it comes from most stores moving into the 'black'.

That's a term that means shops make more money than they need to spend, so they can offer products for a lower price.

Over recent years, most shops in the UK have started to copy America because they've realised it's a way to get people to spend a lot of money all at once.

Some stores open at midnight, and others have offers on all week - and sometimes even longer!

Some eco-campaigners say Black Friday is bad for the environment as it encourages people to buy things they don't need.

A 2019 report from the Green Alliance charity found that 80% of everything bought during the Black Friday bonanza ends up getting thrown away shortly after being purchased.

Also, when it comes to bargains, not everything is always what it seems.

Consumer group Which? said that nearly nine in 10 products sold on Black Friday are available for the same price or cheaper earlier in the year.

While some shops love Black Friday, not everyone thinks it is a good idea and it often doesn't run smoothly.

Sometimes shops can be so busy that you have to queue to get in, websites can crash and people have been known to argue and fight over items they want to buy.

Critics say events like this are often better for big shops who have lots of items to sell, but it can be difficult for smaller shops to cut prices as much.

As Black Friday gets so much publicity, customers expect everyone to offer bargains and not all shops can afford it.