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Colorado Celebrated 2 Thanksgivings In 1939

DENVER (CBS4) - If you count eating leftovers, we suppose it's possible to celebrate Thanksgiving again and again for days after the holiday is over.

But in 1939, Coloradans actually did mark Thanksgiving twice -- because there were two Thanksgivings that year.

From the Civil War to 1939, Americans feted Thanksgiving on the last Thursday in November. But when retailers grumbled to President Franklin Roosevelt that they wanted more shopping days between Thanksgiving and Christmas -- and in 1939, Thanksgiving was to fall on Nov. 30, leaving Americans a scant 20 days to shop 'til they dropped -- FDR relented and moved it up one week.

Chaos ensued -- well, as much chaos as you can generate from moving a holiday. Traditionalists complained. Republicans complained. Even college football coaches complained.

The country split over Roosevelt's plan. (Some dubbed his holiday "Franksgiving.") Twenty-two states sided with the president and celebrated Thanksgiving on Nov. 23 while 23 clung to tradition and stuck with Nov. 30.

But three states -- Colorado, Texas and Mississippi -- compromised and celebrated Thanksgiving on both days.

No word on whether football fans were subjected to watching the Detroit Lions play twice.

RELATED: Dress In Layers: Denver's Thanksgivings Boast Wacky Weather | Thanksgiving Holiday Guide

- Written by Tim Skillern for CBSDenver.com

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