Where are Black Friday and Cyber Monday celebrated around the world?
While November’s Black Friday is an American tradition and the most popular time of year for Americans to begin—and even complete—all their holiday gift shopping, this unofficial holiday has been adopted by many other countries eager to capitalize on the season of giving. As Cyber Monday arose and competed for attention, the world also adopted this online shopping event.
Check out some shopping traditions from around the world and decide where you’d like to get the best Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals this year.
United States
In the United States, Black Friday comes the day after the Thanksgiving holiday (which is on the fourth Thursday in November) is a major event for families and close friends. The day provides an opportunity for families to finish their holiday shopping or even buy major household items that are now heavily discounted. Most people make a whole day out of it, some even treating it like a sport and mapping out their whole shopping plan. Many shoppers want to take advantage of the unbeatable prices to get the best Black Friday deals for Christmas.
Canada
As Black Friday’s popularity rose in the 21st century, the unofficial holiday spread to other countries, especially America’s northern neighbor. Canadian retailers wanted to keep shoppers on their side of the border, halting the trek to the U.S. for deals. Around 2008, Canada started to offer Black Friday deals to compete with the ones in the U.S. and keep their bargain hunters border side.
Are you interested in sending a money transfer as a gift?
It’s a common truth that many people prefer money as the ultimate gift to do with as they please. If your loved ones live in a different country, gifting money can be easier than mailing a gift. So, if you want to send money to loved ones as a gift this holiday season, consider a money transfer.
The Western Union app can help you send a money transfer easily and conveniently, almost anywhere in the world. Just download the Western Union app and upload your financial information as well as the information of the receiver. You can use a debit card, credit card, or bank account number to send a money transfer.
United Kingdom
Even though Thanksgiving is not a holiday in the U.K., many retailers still take advantage of Black Friday on the Friday following America’s Thanksgiving. In the early 2000s, many U.K. retailers began offering Black Friday discounts. You can find the best Black Friday deals in the U.K on larger ticket items like tablets, consoles, phones, and more.
Mexico
In Mexico, El Buen Fin (The Good Weekend) is the weekend before the celebration of the Mexican Revolution, which is the third Monday of November, and has become an unofficial shopping extravaganza. El Buen Fin became popular in November of 2011, and this nationwide shopping event is Mexico’s version of Black Friday.
China
The biggest online shopping event in the world is Singles Day, a Chinese Holiday on November 11th to celebrate unmarried people. Although it is not an official holiday, the event encourages singles to treat themselves to gifts and expensive items. This e-commerce event takes place on Alibaba’s platforms and surpasses both Black Friday and Cyber Monday in customer spending.
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is celebrated on December 26th in the U.K, Canada, Australia, Ireland, and other British Commonwealth countries. It was initially a day off for workers and servants. The rich were supposed to box up gifts and money for those less fortunate. Today, it’s a final attempt for retailers to rid themselves of leftover merchandise as the holiday season comes to an end. Many shoppers use this day as an excuse to treat themselves and hand off unwanted gifts. Boxing Day has sales both in-store and online.
Is Cyber Monday celebrated around the world?
In addition to Black Friday, Cyber Monday (the Monday after Thanksgiving) has also made a global impression. Online shopping has become the new staple, in part due to the worldwide pandemic. You can find the best Cyber Monday deals across the globe by searching for them early and checking the websites of your favorite retailers.
Small retailers continue to do well during the holidays, especially if you celebrate #smallbusinesssaturday, which originated in the U.S. in 2010. The day is meant to shine a light on hardworking small businesses, urging shoppers to support their small town’s economy during Thanksgiving weekend.
Whether you want to pay for Christmas dinner or ease the holiday season’s bills, Western Union can help you send along a gift of money to friends and family across the world.
Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and other global shopping events are a great excuse to get your holiday shopping finished and in order. Whatever your seasonal traditions may be, remember to treat your friends and loved ones to something special, and add a little something for yourself to the shopping cart! Help your loved ones across the globe with their holiday shopping. You can send money online, via the Western Union app, or visit one of our agent locations to send money in-person.
