Jie Zhang, a professor of marketing at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, points to a 1951 mention of “Black Friday” in a New-York based trade publication — which noted that many workers simply called in sick the day after Thanksgiving in hopes of having a long holiday weekend.

Whether you’re hunting for tech, home goods, or holiday gifts, here’s what you need to know to navigate Black Friday 2024:

AM EST The week of Black Friday is finally here. We're tracking all the best deals across retailers and updating this list as things come in and go out of stock.The time is nigh. In a matter of days our bellies — and shopping carts — will be full.