Franksgiving facts for kids

In 1939, Franklin D. Roosevelt, the President of the United States, made a big change to the holiday of Thanksgiving. He decided to move it one week earlier than usual. His goal was to help stores sell more things during a very difficult economic time called the Great Depression. This change caused a lot of confusion and even protests from people. Those who were unhappy with the new date started calling the holiday Franksgiving. Today, Thanksgiving in the United States is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November, a date that was officially set after 1941.

Franksgiving: A Thanksgiving Change

Imagine if a holiday you loved suddenly changed its date! That's what happened in 1939. President Franklin D. Roosevelt decided to move Thanksgiving Day. Instead of the last Thursday of November, he declared it would be on the third Thursday. This decision was part of his plan to help the country's economy.

Why Change Thanksgiving?

President Roosevelt's main reason for moving Thanksgiving was to boost retail sales. "Retail sales" means how much money stores make from selling goods to people. During the Great Depression, many people didn't have much money. Businesses were struggling. Roosevelt hoped that an earlier Thanksgiving would create a longer Christmas shopping season. More shopping days, he thought, would mean more sales. This could help businesses earn more money and maybe even create more jobs.

What Was the Great Depression?

The Great Depression was a very tough time for the United States. It lasted from the late 1920s into the early 1940s. Millions of people lost their jobs. Many families struggled to buy food and pay for their homes. Businesses closed down. The economy was in a very bad state. President Roosevelt tried many different ideas to help the country recover. Moving Thanksgiving was one of his smaller efforts to get people spending money again.

A New Date for Thanksgiving

President Roosevelt's change to Thanksgiving caused a lot of debate. Some people supported the idea, especially businesses that hoped for more sales. But many others were upset. They felt it was wrong to change a long-standing tradition. Some states even refused to change their Thanksgiving date! This meant that for a few years, some parts of the country celebrated Thanksgiving on one Thursday, while other parts celebrated it on a different Thursday. This confusion led to the nickname "Franksgiving," combining "Franklin" (for President Roosevelt) and "Thanksgiving."

How Did People React?

The public reaction to Franksgiving was mixed. Many families found it confusing. Imagine trying to plan a holiday meal when your relatives in another state are celebrating on a different day! Football teams also had problems. Their game schedules were often planned around the traditional Thanksgiving date. This made it hard for them to play games on the new date. The change caused a lot of headaches and frustration for many Americans.

Thanksgiving's Final Date

Because of all the confusion and protest, the change didn't last long. In 1941, Congress passed a law to officially set the date for Thanksgiving. They decided that Thanksgiving Day would always be celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. This fixed the date for good. It ended the "Franksgiving" experiment and brought back a consistent holiday for everyone across the country.

Images for kids

• 

  Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1933