Vouchers for the Early

Black Friday, the day after U.S. Thanksgiving, is traditionally the beginning of the holiday shopping season in the U.S. when retailers lure customers with deep discounts. The name recalls a time when U.S. retailers would use the day to make a big part of their annual profit, and income statements would go to black from red.

Left, assistant store manager Charles Johnson hands out vouchers to the first people in line at a Kmart in Griffith, Indiana.