I don't get it (as usual)

Why is this called "Black Friday?" It's the day after Thanksgiving, and apparently lots of insane people queue up in front of the shopping malls at oh-dark-thirty to do their Christmas shopping. Shouldn't it be called "Green Friday?" Is it called "Black Friday" because the retailers hope to be in the black by the end of the day, as opposed to the red? What?

When did they start calling it Black Friday, anyway? Did they call it that last year? I don't remember it if they did. Is this a new term, or was I just not paying attention until this year? Help me out here.

Are you one of those insane interesting people who braved the stores this morning to shop? If so, please tell me why. I really want to know what that's like from your perspective. I'm not a morning person. I'm not a crowds-of-people person, either. So, from my perspective this would be the absolute worst day to get out there and shop, no matter how much money I might "save."

Is it the thrill of the hunt? The blood? What?
________________________________________