Thanksgiving & Black Friday in the UK

• November 24th, 2016
• superadmin

The world is shrinking, but how relevant is Thanksgiving and Black Friday to the average British citizen?

Technology, and specifically, the internet and social media, has brought many people together, and friends from across the pond are now sharing holidays and traditions like never before.  For instance, even though we are in the UK, we are now well aware that today is Thanksgiving Day in the USA –  we know that Americans give thanks for their harvest, and also remember the humble beginnings of the USA, celebrating the tradition started by the pilgrim fathers when they first gathered in the fruits of their hard work.

For a couple of years, we have been seeing an increase in ‘Black Friday’  promotions in the UK as well. For the uninitiated, Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving – both days are public holidays in the US, and the Friday traditionally marks the start of the Christmas period.  The time following Thanksgiving, including Black Friday, is seen as when Christmas decorations are ‘permitted’ to go up, rather like the Advent period in the UK is the ‘official’ start of preparing for Christmas.

But why is it called ‘Black Friday’? As Thanksgiving is a two-day public holiday in the US, many people take the advantage of their free time by going shopping for Christmas presents.  It is particularly on the Friday when the retail sector notices a massive surge in takings – meaning their accounts are likely to be ‘in the black’ on that day, hence the name ‘Black Friday’.  Here in the UK shopping and planning for Christmas is something we share with our American friends, so it is not surprising that our own retailers have jumped on the Black Friday bandwagon, offering deals and exclusives  in time for Christmas.

At Shadow Carriage, we are no different.  We’re also planning for Christmas  – it’s a time when we notice there’s a rush on to book transportation  to and from corporate Christmas parties, trips to see families and friends and even transport to airports for those taking a flight overseas.   Our prestigious fleet of luxury cars, including Mercedes S-Class, Mercedes E-Class and Viano, together with our experienced, professional drivers, provide a first class service and leave you free to enjoy your party without the worry of how you will be getting home again.

So what does Thanksgiving and Black Friday mean to us in the UK?  It means it’s nearly Christmas!  In fact, this year, the dates of Thanksgiving and Black Friday – the 24^th and 25^th of November – are exactly one month before Christmas!  It’s a great time to get your transport bookings in for your Christmas parties or airport transfers,  so that everything can go smoothly on the day.

Do give us a call, make an online booking or ask for a quote for your Christmas transportation.  It’s never too early to make that booking, and we’ll certainly give thanks that you chose Shadow Carriage!