How did such a depressing-sounding nickname become the kickoff to the bonanza of holiday shopping season? It turns out, the term Black Friday didn’t always have such merry origins.

Today, the “black” in the moniker refers to the fact that the day after Thanksgiving typically marks the time of year when retailers start turning a profit. According to National Retailers Federation spokeswoman Kathy Grannis, the average retailer makes 40 percent of his annual sales between Thanksgiving and Dec. 31.