The Daily Sun-Up Historian Derek Everett explains how Colorado celebrated two Thanksgivings
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Nov 26, 2025 Derek Everett, a history professor and author specializing in Colorado's past, dives into the intriguing periods when the state celebrated two Thanksgivings. He highlights how Thanksgiving evolved into a late-November tradition and discusses FDR's controversial 1939 decision to move it earlier to help the economy. Everett shares Colorado's unique response, where Governor Ralph Carr allowed both dates amid business pressures. This quirky chapter not only impacted local traditions but also reflected broader societal anxieties leading up to World War II.
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How Thanksgiving Became Traditional
- Thanksgiving became the last Thursday in November by presidential proclamations and tradition rather than by law.
- The holiday's modern pilgrim imagery and annual status solidified only in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Shopping Drove The Date Change
- Merchants persuaded Franklin Roosevelt to move Thanksgiving earlier to create an extra week of holiday shopping.
- Roosevelt issued a 1939 proclamation moving Thanksgiving from November 30 to November 23 to boost sales.
Colorado Let Communities Choose
- Governor Ralph Carr declared Colorado would officially observe November 30 while allowing November 23 as a valid option for businesses.
- Banks closed on both dates to avoid legal complications and businesses decided which day to honor.
