Shoppers, protesters line up for Black Friday

Traditionally, the most bargain-hungry shoppers gather outside shops in the early hours of Friday morning — or even Thursday — to secure the best discounts. Fears of empty shelves due to ongoing supply chain jams this year prompted some to brave the early morning chill and line up, like here at Macy's in New York.

Retailers in Europe have also been trying to lure consumers in with discounts at the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. Although consumer protectionists warn against fake offers and advise calm, this customer in London's West End made a big splash.

Trade unions and climate activists have protested against US online retailer Amazon in several countries with strikes and blockades. In the UK, Extinction Rebellion activists gathered in front of 13 Amazon distribution centers and, as seen here, in front of the company's office in London. They accuse Amazon and other corporations of promoting consumption at the expense of the environment.

For Extinction Rebellion, Black Friday represents a "throwaway and consumerist culture, which is also supported by the fact that the economic focus is not on the common good and the sustainability of the earth, but on the profits of individual large companies."