This year marks the 80th anniversary of “Franksgiving.” Thanksgiving in the 1930s was celebrated traditionally on the last Thursday of November. In order to spur Christmas retail sales, President Franklin D. Roosevelt announced in August 1939 that he was moving Thanksgiving from Nov. 30 to Nov. 23 that year.
Family plans and football schedules were disrupted. Dubbed “Franksgiving” by opponents, a partisan battle raged. States split, choosing their own date to officially celebrate. Defiant Florida remained Nov. 30.
Economic data proved the move had not actually improved retail sales, and FDR moved Thanksgiving in 1942 to the fourth Thursday of November.