While children and parents around the country are sitting around, regretting the huge amount of sugar and chocolate consumed tonight, the folks at Walmart, Amazon and other stores are not only busting out the holiday decorations, but reducing prices and offering short-term large-scale sales for early holiday shoppers.

Four weeks in advance of Black Friday, Walmart says that it is discounting some 20,000 items starting tomorrow, including toys and electronics; items that make up a good chunk of consumers’ Christmas shopping lists.

This will be followed Monday by a 24-hour online sale on Walmart.com, offering free shipping on many orders of $50 or more.

Not to be beaten by bricks-and-mortar stores, Amazon is also planning to kick off its holiday lightning deals on Saturday, and will soon begin doubling up on its Deal of the Day offerings through Dec. 22.

Target is already promoting free shipping on all Target.com orders for the holidays, and starting Sunday users of Target’s Cartwheel coupon app will see deals for 50% off a different toy each day through Dec. 24.

And for folks looking for office supply deals these holidays, both Office Depot and OfficeMax will begin offering deals this Sunday, along with “Every Monday is Cyber Monday” each week through the rest of the season.

Retailers dangle holiday deals as soon as Halloween is over [StarTribune.com]

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