Traditionally, U.S. retailers start their holiday selling season on the day after Thanksgiving, when they have one of their most profitable days of the year (and they go into "the black" or profitability for the year) -- hence the name Black Friday.

This year was different, with sales starting on Thanksgiving Day, roping in customers with promotions and discounts.  As Before It's News reported earlier today, Amazon was out with an impressive array of discounts, including some first run $30 Blu-Ray discs going for $10.

The Wall St. Journal reported that a number of national chains moved up their sale dates to Thanksgiving this year.

In Manhattan's Soho district this week, Gap Inc.'s Old Navy chain has a prominent window sign telling shoppers it's open for business on Thanksgiving Day. Across the street, British retailer Topshop promised early birds a free English breakfast today.

Major retailers including Target Corp., J.C. Penney Co. and Best Buy Co. started Black Friday discounting early online this year in another sign chain stores are eager to avoid the one-day spike in sales of years past, and keep customers shopping throughout the holidays.

Even giant retailer Wal-Mart is getting in on the action, according to the Press of Atlantic City.

As usual, Walmart is expected to draw the largest amount of customers due to its aggressive sales and large customer base. This year the retail giant is offering a  32-inch Emerson HDTV for $28 and a 46-inch Sony Bravia  LCD HDTV for $7989. Its Black Friday bargains also feature a $78 Magnavox Blu-ray Disc and a Nintendo DS Lite for $78.

Many of these sales are one day or through the weekend sales.  Bargains will be had on consumer electronics of all kinds, especially DVD's and Blu-Ray discs, which are attempting to fight off a sales slump.

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