# Green Monday: What It Is and How It Works

![Woman shopping outside with a scarf on](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/htnpamafe7_tkuKbZK8vg6x1Ey4=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1960268143-5a9e225e9a91416cb90d3a2c264607dd.jpg)

*— xavierarnau / Getty Images*

> **Definition**
>
> Green Monday is a term that refers to the second Monday of December when a surge in last-minute holiday purchases and online deals occurs.

## What Is Green Monday?

Green Monday is one of the retail industry's busiest shopping days. It represents the day many shoppers rush to purchase last-minute holiday gifts and take advantage of deals. Green Monday occurs on the second Monday of every December. The term Green Monday was reportedly created by [eBay](https://www.investopedia.com/articles/markets/042815/how-ebay-makes-its-money-ebay.asp) ([EBAY](https://www.investopedia.com/markets/quote?tvwidgetsymbol=EBAY)) as a way to represent the rush of last-minute online shoppers in December.

### Key Takeaways

*   Green Monday is the second Monday in December. It's one of the busiest retail shopping days in the United States.
*   eBay claims it created the phrase in 2007 after it realized that one of its biggest sales days was the second Monday of December.
*   The winter holiday season includes the year's most profitable retail sales days: Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Green Monday.

## Understanding Green Monday

The day has its origins with eBay, which claims to have coined the term Green Monday in 2007 after it realized that the second Monday in December was one of its most profitable sales days. Green Monday is also known as [Cyber Monday](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/cybermonday.asp) in retail circles due to its high volume of online shoppers seeking last-minute holiday deals.

The term green in Green Monday can refer to green for dollars or environmentally green for those who consider online shopping a more eco-friendly endeavor than driving to [brick-and-mortar](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/brickandmortar.asp) stores.

Green Monday is eclipsed by [Black Friday](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/blackfriday.asp) and Cyber Monday in terms of popularity, but this retail event is becoming a marker of holiday sales. Green Monday is promoted by [big-box stores](https://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0212/big-box-stores-vs.-small-retailers.aspx) and online shopping giants like Amazon ([AMZN](https://www.investopedia.com/markets/quote?tvwidgetsymbol=AMZN)) and Target ([TGT](https://www.investopedia.com/markets/quote?tvwidgetsymbol=TGT)). Other retailers may simply offer holiday deals on that day to reach holiday shoppers and reduce merchandise before the end of the year.  
  

> **Important**
>
> Green Monday 2024 is Dec. 9.

## Green Monday vs. Other Retail Days

Green Monday occurs in mid-December, just weeks before Christmas.

In the United States, the holiday shopping season typically used to begin right after Thanksgiving. Sales were traditionally exclusive to Black Friday, the day after [Thanksgiving](https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/102714/how-stock-market-affected-thanksgiving-and-black-friday.asp), which was when many consumers started their holiday shopping. Now some [large retailers](https://www.investopedia.com/articles/markets/122415/worlds-top-10-retailers-wmt-cost.asp) offer sales weeks before and for several days after Thanksgiving.

Here are the major retail shopping days that occur during the holiday season:

*   Black Friday, which happens the day after Thanksgiving
*   [Small Business Saturday](https://www.investopedia.com/small-business-saturday-5085723), which encourages the support of small businesses the day after Black Friday
*   Cyber Monday, which focuses on online shopping the Monday after Black Friday

### Black Friday

Retailers offer discounts online and in-store on Black Friday. Many open their doors during the predawn hours on Black Friday. To keep up with the competition, some retailers keep their operations going on the Thanksgiving holiday, while others begin offering deals earlier in November.

Many people are off of work and eager to spend money. Online and traditional retailers capitalize on this busy shopping day by offering special sales. Some analysts and investors look at Black Friday sales numbers as a litmus test of [the overall health of the entire retail industry](https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/102714/how-stock-market-affected-thanksgiving-and-black-friday.asp). 

### Small Business Saturday

Small Business Saturday is the day after Black Friday. The event was established by American Express in 2010 to help drum up support for small businesses and [mom-and-pop](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/momandpop.asp) shops that suffered during the [financial crisis](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/financial-crisis.asp).

### Cyber Monday

Cyber Monday is the Monday following Thanksgiving. Now a global phenomenon, Cyber Monday entices consumers to shop online. In recent years, Cyber Monday sales have exceeded Black Friday sales.

> **Fast Fact**
>
> The National Retail Federation predicts that retail sales in the 2024 winter holiday season will exceed 2023 by 2.5% to 3.5%.

## When Is Green Monday?

Green Monday occurs on the second Monday in December each year. In 2024, Green Monday takes place on Dec. 9.

## When Did Green Monday Start?

The first Green Monday was in December 2007. eBay maintains it created the name after it figured out that the second Monday in December was one of its biggest sales days of the year.  

## What Is Cyber Monday?

Cyber Monday takes place on the Monday following the Thanksgiving weekend. Online retailers give discounts on this day and traditional retailers offer exclusive, website-only deals.

## The Bottom Line

The holiday shopping season gives retailers a big boost. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are the days that typically bring in the most sales. There are lesser-known days, as well. Green Monday, for example, takes place each year on the second Monday in December. Reportedly established by eBay, this day is one of the biggest shopping days of the year.

> **Article Sources**
>
> 1.  eBay. "[It's so eBay Being Green (Monday)](https://community.ebay.com/t5/Announcements/It-s-so-eBay-being-Green-Monday/ba-p/31429812)."
>     
> 2.  eBay. “[eBay Launches Last-Minute Deals Starting on the 10th Anniversary of Green Monday](https://www.ebayinc.com/stories/news/ebay-launches-last-minute-deals-starting-on-the-10th-anniversary-of-green-monday/).”
>     
> 3.  Office Depot. "[How Small Businesses Can Get Their Share of the Green on "Green Monday](https://www.officedepot.com/l/ideas-center/grow-your-business/how-smbs-can-get-their-share-of-the-green-on-green-monday)."
>     
> 4.  National Retail Federation. “[Record 166.3 Million Shoppers Expected During Thanksgiving Weekend.](https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/record-1663-million-shoppers-expected-during-thanksgiving-weekend)”
>     
> 5.  National Retail Federation. "[Winter Holiday FAQs](https://nrf.com/topics/holiday-and-seasonal-trends/winter-holidays/winter-holiday-faqs)."
>     
> 6.  U.S. Small Business Administration. "[Small Business Saturday](https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/organization/sba-initiatives/small-business-saturday)."
>     
> 7.  American Express. ”[Shop Small With American Express](https://www.americanexpress.com/en-us/benefits/shop-small/)."
>     
> 8.  Insider Intelligence. “[US Holiday Shopping 2021](https://www.insiderintelligence.com/content/us-holiday-shopping-2021).”
>     
> 9.  National Retail Federation. "[Steady Sales Growth Expected for 2024 Holiday Season, According to NRF.](https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/steady-sales-growth-expected-2024-holiday-season-according-nrf)"