Despite the freezing weather and protests, the Black Friday Sales 2014 still attracted crowds into the malls and stores across the United States. And the customary practice of offering low prices the day after Thanksgiving is now spreading across the Atlantic especially in Europe.

Black Friday is traditionally a day that marked the beginning of year-end sales. This 2014, some retailers have even extended their offers while some have already been discounting heavily in an effort to boost sales that have so far been subdued this year. According to The New York Times, a Stifel investment bank retail expert, Richard E. Jaffe said the Black Friday has turned into "Black November" due to the remarkable low priced deals this month.

This 2014, the Black Friday Sales has unusually become less intense than the previous years. Though some shoppers expressed exhaustion over what has become a long, drawn-out start to the holiday sales, the crowds still appeared fueled with their shopping enthusiasm as they gathered at some of America's big shopping centers.

As last year, several retailers had opened early in an attempt to attract shoppers ahead of its rivals. BBC News said when the New York Stock Exchange opened for Friday's shortened day of trading, retailers welcomed the way the holiday season has moved from an event on Black Friday morning to a multi-day event.

While still digesting Thanksgiving turkey dinner on Thursday, several shoppers headed straight to the retail stores forming queues outside for an early Black Friday Sales 2014 shopping. And the usual "Thanksgiving Thursday" just became known as "Grey Thursday."

Since 2005, Black Friday has ranked as the busiest US shopping day in terms of sales and traffic. However, this 2014, Reuters reported mall crowds were relatively thin in a sign of what has become the new norm in US holiday shopping.

Though some shoppers were greeted by protesters at hundreds of stores across the country, with some calling for wage hikes at Wal-Mart Stores Inc. while others protesting the grand jury's decision not to indict Officer Darren Wilson in the August shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, bargain hunters were still drawn for an early Christmas shopping.

The Black Friday Sales 2014 experience has attracted quieter and less chaotic crowds. The extended traditional holiday shopping season kick off signified the hopes of several retailers that the US economy is slowly improving. And combined with lower gasoline prices, it could push shoppers to buy more than they have in previous years.