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    [OC] Where do Britons have a name for the last Friday before Christmas?
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    [OC] Where do Britons have a name for the last Friday before Christmas?

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    26 Comments

    1. mattsmithetc on

      I’m from Somerset, and it came as a surprise to me – as it probably does to many Britons – when I discovered recently that in some areas of the country they have a special name for the last Friday before Christmas

      The two most common are ‘Mad Friday’ and ‘Black Friday’ or ‘Black Eye Friday’, in reference to drunken revelry ahead of Christmas itself. On a national level, neither is particularly common – only 7% and 8% of Britons respectively – but they are far more widespread in some areas.

      Black/Black Eye Friday usage is most common in the North East of England – particularly in Tyne and Wear (44%) – and the south of Wales.

      Meanwhile, Mad Friday usage is most common in an arc encompassing west, north and central Wales through the counties around Manchester to the Yorkshire coast, as well as some areas of Scotland, particularly the Scottish Borders (49%).

      Overall, 74% of Britons say they don’t have a special name for the last Friday before Christmas.

      We’ve got the full data breakdown on the YouGov website

      Source: YouGov [https://yougov.co.uk/society/articles/53757-what-do-you-call-the-last-friday-before-christmas](https://yougov.co.uk/society/articles/53757-what-do-you-call-the-last-friday-before-christmas) Sample is ~49,000 Britons

      Tools: Illustrator

    2. sparky-99 on

      It’s generally hard workers and the emergency services who use these, because they’re extra busy.

    6. Ill_Refrigerator_593 on

      I surprised so few people have a name for it, i’ve heard both used regularly (at least at this time of year).

      I guessed its usage might be restricted to the section of the population involved with nightlife but I assume they have that in the south.

    7. ziplock9000 on

      I’ve never heard of ‘mad’ or ‘black’ Friday.. Just ‘Black eye’. No surprise I’m from Tyne and Wear.

    8. CakerTaker on

      “Factory Friday” is common here in North Devon. I’ve never heard of those other terms…

    9. stray_r on

      I think the perspective changes if you work in retail. Consider how the US driven Black Friday likely got its name as the combination of a large proportion of the population having the day off work with retailers courting Christmas shoppers with sale pricing.

    10. ValidGarry on

      When I worked on North Tyneside in the pubs and clubs we used to call the last Friday, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve as “Amateur Drinking Night”

    11. Reasonable_Shock_414 on

      Germany here – we don’t have a word for that. Please, don’t give the ad crowd any more ideas 🫣

    13. Less_Cauliflower_OK on

      I’m glad that in Lincolnshire, we obviously just call it “Friday” – which it is.

    15. Future-Entry196 on

      I worked in bars and pubs in Plymouth circa ten years ago and black eye Friday was a common phrase used amongst staff and punters

      Still hear it a lot these days despite working in a different industry

    17. Mr5wift on

      I’ve only heard it called Mad Friday by emergency services in the last decade or so. I’m London/south Essex. After a quick Google Wikipedia says the media started using the term in 2013, but in Scotland and ‘the north’ It’s been used since the 70s.

    19. MFingAmpharos on

      I live in one of the red areas and everyone round here calls it Mad Friday.

      I didn’t realise that wasn’t a nationwide thing.

    20. bugbugladybug on

      I used to call it black Friday – as did everyone else in the pubs/clubs I worked in, but this was 20 years ago.

      Black Friday is now so synonymous with the post-thanksgiving shopping day that I’m not sure it’s still in solid use.

    23. SpencerfromtheHills on

      I’m from south Wales and this is my experience. It’s a bit disturbing how the commercialised, post-Thanksgiving holiday has eclipsed our Ancient Tradition of going to town and getting pissed before Christmas.