What it is
Black Friday is known as the biggest shopping day of the year, with stores opening early for sales. It always falls between November 23 and 29.
Is it a day off?
It is not a federal holiday, so federal offices are open unless the president adds it by executive order. Many states give state employees the day, often called the Day after Thanksgiving, and it is one of the most common extra paid holidays at private companies.
The stock market opens but closes early, at 1 p.m. Eastern.
History
Philadelphia police used "Black Friday" in the 1950s and 1960s to describe the crowds and traffic on the day. Retailers later recast it as the day stores go "into the black".