Black Friday started at the stroke of midnight today as hordes of savvy shoppers braved the crowds and the cold for hot bargains across the city.

“It’s crazy and people take it seriously,” said Queens bartender Devaughn Hurdele, who was one of the first shoppers at Old Navy in Herald Square.

He waited in line with at least 1,000 others to pick up jeans — and a free video game for being there so early.

Some shoppers at Toys ‘R’ Us in Times Square got an even earlier start on the busiest shopping day of the holiday season — with the doors opening at 10 last night.

“I’m saving $100 on a 7-inch netbook,” said Jeanette Lopez, 39, of The Bronx, who had her Thanksgiving dinner in Manhattan to be closer to the deals.

“I love Black Friday. This is what makes our Christmas.”

Liz Edward, proud of the Nerf gun she got for 70 percent off, said, “It’s a recession going on and we’re glad to save more money.”

Others even traded in their turkey dinners for discounts, scouring the handful of stores that were open during Thanksgiving morning and afternoon.

Scott Buckhout, 43, an executive from Hartford, Conn., said that he “snuck away” from his family after the parade to blow $1,500 on a camera lens and a book at B&H in Midtown.

Last year, 18 million shoppers hit the stores on Thanksgiving, according to the National Retail Federation.

Additional reporting by Kelly Magee and Rebecca Rosenberg