How FDR’s 1939 Franksgiving nearly split America over turkey day

Thanksgiving has long been a cherished American tradition, a moment to pause, share a meal, and reflect on life’s blessings. Yet, in 1939, the holiday nearly tore the nation apart—not over politics or war, but over a date.

That year, President Franklin D. Roosevelt decided to shift Thanksgiving from its traditional date, the last Thursday in November, to the second-to-last Thursday—November 23 instead of November 30. The rationale was simple: retailers argued that a late Thanksgiving shortened the Christmas shopping season, cutting into sales at a time when economic recovery was still fragile.

While the intent was economic, the response was deeply political. Roughly half of the country’s 48 states, including Pennsylvania, accepted Roosevelt’s “early Thanksgiving,” while nearly as many clung to the traditional date. Texas and Colorado stayed neutral. Predictably, most Democratic governors aligned with the president, while Republicans resisted.

Locally, the city of Erie felt the tension firsthand. Editorials from the Erie Daily Times suggested that most residents might not have noticed the shift if it hadn’t been announced so formally. Yet the Erie Dispatch Herald reported that the new date was the talk of the town, sparking widespread frustration. One citizen was quoted, “FDR has messed up everything else so he might as well mess up the turkey dinner.” Schoolchildren wondered if other holidays might also be rescheduled to extend vacations, and some claimed, “The Republicans are sure to win in 1940 after that … you can’t change holidays and get away with it.”

Even outside Erie, Americans were grumbling. Football coaches complained as scheduled Thanksgiving games became merely “Thursday afternoon scrimmages,” while printers were frustrated because most 1940 calendars were already set in stone.

Retailers, on the other hand, were thrilled. Stores advertised early holiday deals, from silver-plated coffee sets to electric football games, hoping to entice shoppers with extra shopping days. Toy sections filled with merry-go-rounds and Santa Claus displays promised a festive start to the Christmas season. Yet, by 1941, studies revealed that “Franksgiving,” as critics dubbed the early holiday, did little to boost retail sales. Congress intervened, passing legislation to cement Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday in November, ensuring the chaos would not repeat.

The story of Thanksgiving doesn’t start—or end—with Roosevelt. Presidents from George Washington to Abraham Lincoln had at times moved or ignored the date for political, social, or logistical reasons. Andrew Johnson famously neglected to declare Thanksgiving in 1865, caught in the upheaval of the Civil War’s end, Lincoln’s assassination, and the abolition of slavery. Churches had to remind him, and he finally proclaimed the holiday for December 7, a rare late celebration.

Others, like Thomas Jefferson, refused to officially recognize Thanksgiving at all, citing First Amendment concerns. Sarah Josepha Hale, a tireless editor and advocate, pushed for decades to establish a fixed date. Her persistence paid off when Lincoln, in 1863, proclaimed Thanksgiving to fall on the last Thursday of November—a tradition that lasted until Roosevelt’s controversial “early” shift.

Today, Thanksgiving is largely free of political strife, and retailers no longer rely on it to drive the bulk of their annual sales. But the story of 1939 remains a fascinating reminder that even beloved traditions can spark intense debate when altered—and that sometimes, the simplest holidays, like giving thanks, can become surprisingly complicated.

FAQ: The 1939 Thanksgiving Controversy

Q: Why did FDR move Thanksgiving in 1939?
A: To extend the Christmas shopping season and help boost retail sales during economic recovery.

Q: Did all states follow Roosevelt’s new date?
A: No. About half the states observed the early Thanksgiving, while others stuck to the traditional date.

Q: What was the public reaction?
A: Mixed—some were indifferent, many were frustrated, and retailers were excited.

Q: What is “Franksgiving”?
A: A nickname for the 1939 early Thanksgiving that Roosevelt proclaimed, blending his name with the holiday.

Q: When was Thanksgiving officially fixed?
A: In 1941, Congress set Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November, a law still in place today.