Letter: Remember when there were two Thanksgivings?
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Volunteers prepare plates at the Salt Lake City Mission at 1055 N. Redwood Road in Salt Lake City, as they host a Thanksgiving banquet for the homeless and the hungry on Thursday, Nov. 28, 2019.
With Thanksgiving falling so late in November this year, it brings back to mind President Franklin Roosevelt’s ill-fated Depression-era executive order to advance the holiday one week earlier in the month. Roosevelt felt like this would give people more time to shop between Thanksgiving and Christmas and as a result spark an economic boost to a nation deep in the Depression. About half of the country went along with the idea, and about half stuck to the traditional date. For others, it gave them an excuse to celebrate Thanksgiving twice. As a result, Thanksgiving holiday reverted back to the fourth Thursday in November. How many people are still around that remember this?
Walt Borla, Sandy
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