Crazy crowds, super sales, long lines… Black Friday is nothing short of an unforgettable, adrenaline-boosting, grand day out. Black Friday is also what we like to call “the Olympics of bargain shopping.” In the U.S., this day is marked as the largest shopping day of the year. Black Friday’s popularity has spread like wildfire, so much so that other countries have either adopted their own Black Friday customs, or a different kind of shopping holiday!

If you find yourself itching for a shopping spree on your next trip abroad, here are some places you can go to have your own mega-bargain, shop-’til-you-drop holiday. So get your shopping carts ready, because it’s time to check out these fantastic shopping holidays and Black Friday sales around the world!

Boxing Day, U.K. — December 26

Boxing Day was originally observed to give laborers (household servants, errand boys, postal workers, etc.) a chance to receive presents of their own on the day after Christmas. After a weekend of serving others — for instance, delivering innumerable holiday packages — service-industry workers would receive a “Christmas Box” on the first weekday after the holidays. These boxes contained anything from a bonus, leftover holiday foods, or small gifts such as warm clothing for the winter or toys for their children.

Centuries later, this holiday has spread into other neighboring nations and is very much like Black Friday. Boxing Day is a day for — you guessed it — shopping. From doorbuster deals to shoulder-to-shoulder crowds, this day is one for mass consumption. It’s a good thing shoppers are going into this day with filled bellies and in positive holiday spirits!

El Buen Fin, Mexico — Mid-November

Think Christmas, the Mexican Revolution, and Black Friday… all rolled into one day. That’s what El Buen Fin celebrates. Literally translated, El Buen Fin means “The Good End.” But in this context, it’s used to describe the sentiments of “The Good Weekend” (that is, El Buen Fin de Semana). It has been Mexico’s largest nationwide shopping event since 2011. It takes place the weekend leading into the third Monday of November, which commemorates the Mexican Revolution (originally on November 20).

Retailers and government officials implemented this holiday to give life to the Mexican economy while giving customers the chance to stock up on presents for upcoming Navidad (Christmas). This shopping holiday is thought to have been modeled after the American Black Friday. So, needless to say, if you happen to find yourself in Mexico for El Buen Fin, we hope you add “Shop ’til you drop”…er…we mean “¡Comprar hasta caer!” to your travel agenda!

White Day, East Asia — March 14

In many East Asian countries, Valentine’s Day is known as a female-centric holiday. Women present chocolate gifts to men as an expression of love or interest. As a ploy to boost marshmallow sales, Japanese confectionery companies deemed it a social obligation for men to give women marshmallows as a symbol of gratitude. White Day was born as a response holiday, which gives men the opportunity to respond and reciprocate the gifts they received on Valentine’s Day. The practice has widened beyond Japan to include China, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, and more.

The practice has now widened to include gifts of all thing white. On March 14 — exactly one month after Valentine’s Day — men all across these Asian nations rush to the stores to purchase white-colored gifts such as white roses, white chocolate, white gold jewelry, or marshmallows as an appreciation for the women who have sent gifts to them. Since the gifts span so widely from edible to non-edible options, White Day has quickly become a day when shopping reigns strong!

Les Soldes, France — January and June

France is known for its Les Soldes shopping extravaganzas, designed to help retailers get rid of old stock before the new season. Distinguished as the two biggest sales events of the year, these promotions typically take place once in January after the holidays and again at the end of June and into July.

Each of the Les Soldes events lasts approximately three weeks. The exact dates differ by region so you’ll want to do your research if you plan on getting your shopping done en France. You will find great deals at a number of different retailers ranging from large department stores to smaller boutiques. Look for the signs indicating “soldes” to find the biggest savings.

Click Frenzy, Australia — November and May

Australia’s Click Frenzy is best compared to America’s Cyber Monday, an online sales spectacular, but for the Land Down Under. The event got its start over a decade ago when an online retail trade site posted deals from over 200 separate retailers. Rather than having to sift through the sales sites of individual retailers, shoppers can find all of the best savings together on one platform.

There are now tons of Click Frenzy events scattered throughout the year. However, the original “main event” typically takes place early in November, helping consumers to get a head start on their holiday shopping. While the initial Click Frenzy resulted in crashed websites and frustrated consumers, the event is now one of Australia’s most anticipated shopping opportunities.

Flipkart Big Billion Festival, India — Early October

Just as the Christmas holiday triggers the bulk of consumer spending in the U.S., it’s the Diwali holiday that sets the stage for the biggest surge of shopping in India. The Flipkart Big Billion Festival is typically held in early October ahead of the country’s most colorful celebration.

The hottest-selling items during this time of year include food and home furnishings, which the people of India tend to focus on when hosting Diwali celebrations. The Festival is also popular in Sri Lanka, Nepal, and other countries that practice Hinduism. Regardless of where you shop during the Big Billion Festival, you’re sure to find lots of discounts on practically anything you can imagine.

You may also like: 7 Ways to Get Cheap Flights for Black Friday

White Friday, The Middle East — Late November

The Middle East’s biggest shopping event of the year is held at the end of November, similar to when the U.S. holds Black Friday. Like Black Friday, White Friday is responsible for a large percentage of overall retail sales in this region of the world. Analysts estimated that the 2021 White Friday event brought in nearly $50 billion in sales.

In contrast to the U.S. version, White Friday lasts for four whole days. Also, the mega sale is a relatively new concept, first launched in 2014 by the online e-commerce website souq.com. Shoppers will find White Friday deals in malls, markets, and online, making it easy to cash in on these significant savings.

Know of any other great shopping holidays around the world? Share them with us in the comments!