Source

State Archives of Florida, Series S368

Description

Harriet Pratt Bodifield of Cocoa, Florida, thanks the governor for keeping with tradition and not changing the date of Thanksgiving to accommodate holiday shopping.

Date

1939-11-23

Creator

Bodifield, Harriet Pratt

Format

Letters (correspondence)

Coverage

Depression Era Florida (1926-1939)

Topic

Social Life And Customs

Subjects

Celebrations
Cone, Frederick Preston, 1871-1948
Florida. Governor (1937-1941 : Cone)
Holidays
Thanksgiving Day

Geographic Term

Cocoa
Brevard County
Leon County
Tallahassee

General Note

In 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued a proclamation moving the Thanksgiving holiday from the last Thursday of November to the second to last Thursday of the month to extend the holiday shopping season. The holiday was changed from November 30, the last day of the month, to November 23. Thirty-two states issued similar proclamations, but 16 states refused to make the change. Florida Governor Fred P. Cone decided not to move the date forward and left the holiday on its traditional day. The governor's decision received both praise and opposition, with many wanting to keep with tradition, while others criticized the governor for creating confusion throughout the state. Many Florida organizations chose one date to celebrate the holiday, while others recognized both days as Thanksgiving. The dispute remained unresolved in 1940 and 1941. The issue was finally settled on December 26, 1941, when President Roosevelt signed a joint resolution declaring the fourth Thursday in November as the Federal Thanksgiving Day holiday.