While turkey stuffing and cranberry dressing have been American holiday traditions for generations retailers have a tradition of their own: Black Friday. Starting in the late 1800s many retailers began sponsoring Thanksgiving Day parades to draw potential customers into commercial districts and provide a not-so-subtle hint that the holiday shopping season had commenced. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade which began in the 1920s is probably the best-known example of this tactic. Since then the Friday following Thanksgiving has become one of the year’s busiest shopping days. This year’s Black Friday was no exception even as the US economy continues ...