HOUSTON — Have you ever wondered why we celebrate Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday in November? Turns out, that's not always been the case.
Christmas shopping is a big reason why we celebrate Thanksgiving when we do.
It all started in 1789 when President George Washington declared November 26 as a national day of public thanksgiving and the tradition continued with presidents announcing each year when Thanksgiving would be held.
By the time President Abraham Lincoln issued his Thanksgiving declaration, celebrating on the last Thursday in November was pretty standard. Then came Franklin D. Roosevelt - in 1939, November had five Thursdays. Shop owners begged the president to move Thanksgiving up to give people more time for Christmas shopping.
FDR caved to the request but not everyone was happy. Some governors insisted their states hold Turkey Day on the traditional date, resulting in a national split with more than half the states celebrating on the last Thursday of the month.
A couple of states, including Texas, celebrated both.
Congress settled the matter in 1941, passing a law designating Thanksgiving the fourth Thursday in November.
