Getting up well before the break of dawn to stand in line outside of a Kohl’s store is more about a family tradition than bargain deals or great savings for Ann Hill and her two daughters.

Resting outside of a clothing store at the Mall at Rockingham Park as her daughters continued to peruse the Black Friday sales just after 8 a.m on Nov. 28, Hill said she had not only been up and ready to shop at 3 a.m. but had waited in line for more than an hour at the register at Kohl’s, though buying items was not her main goal.

“It’s a tradition with my daughters,” she said. “I’m not a big shopper. It’s more an annual tradition with the kids and the sales.”

Michael Silva had already done the majority of his holiday shopping before Black Friday, but braved the long lines and thick crowds out of a marital obligation.

“Anything for the wife,” he said, waiting outside an Aeropostale clothing store with a full bag of purchases.

Searching for holiday gifts for his two children, ages 15 and 10, Antonio Cruz said the good deals and big sales had lured him out to the mall during the early morning hours.

“I’m going to spend more money today. I’m trying to help the economy,” he said, laughing. “This is the busiest I’ve ever seen it. I don’t know who is pulling whose leg on the economy.”

Lines began forming outside of major retailers like J.C. Penney and Sears around 3 a.m., according to Emily Hoang, director of mall marketing, and foot traffic had been high since the doors opened at 5 a.m. The mall’s Disney Store started doing business just as the day officially began, opening when the clock struck midnight with a line of shoppers ready and waiting.

“Our foot traffic has been pretty strong and steady,” Hoang said. “We gave out gift bags to the first customers and we ran out of goody bags in about 10 minutes.”

Paul and Tracy Jacques, out shopping for their children, said that between this year and last year, it seemed less people were out taking advantage of the Black Friday sales.

“We found a parking spot with no trouble,” Tracy said. “That tells you something.” The economic forecast had “absolutely” been on the Jacques’ mind before taking part in the Black Friday sales, but Paul said he and his wife had budgeted before doing holiday shopping even during better years.

“We’re on a budget every year, even when the economy is good,” he said. “You can’t overspend.”

For Hill, the mall did not seem as crowded as it had in past years during the annual traditional shopping trip with her daughters and said the economic downturn had played into her spending decisions as well.

“I won’t buy it unless it’s a really good sale,” she said.