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NaonvedmbTerr'saTdreiatsiuorens s
by Lois Bolin believing this would help encourage retail
Old Naples Historian sales during the Great Depression.
A utumn is my favorite time of the year. My The new tradition was called
first year in paradise, I did not notice the Franksgiving, a portmanteau of
subtleties the seasons had to offer, but after 38 "Franklin" and "Thanksgiving," coined by
years of living in paradise; those understated moments Atlantic City mayor Thomas D. Taggart,
are treasured. Whether it’s shifting light patterns, Jr. to describe the 1939-41 Thanksgiving
low humidity with gentle breezes, or the smells of holidays. This change caused such
jasmine across the lake; I am transported to memories upheaval that after 1941; the tradition
of pumpkins, mums and preparations for some of was moved to the fourth Thursday in
November’s oldest traditions. November.
THANKSGIVING ELECTION DAY
One of America’s most treasured holidays began Maybe it’s not the most beloved tradition,
with our first President, George Washington. Since but certainly an important one. The tradition
Washington’s proclamation, the dates varied until of voting for the Presidency is held on the first
President Abraham Lincoln's Proclamation of 1863. Tuesday after the first Monday. In 1792, states
This custom of the last Thursday of November fell were given the latitude to hold their elections
prey to a marketing idea when President Franklin at any time in a 34-day period before the first Wednesday of
D. Roosevelt moved Thanksgiving ahead one week, December, the day set for the meeting of the Electoral College.
There was no problem with this time frame as it was ahead of the
winter storms and allowed for the harvest season to be completed.
What soon became a problem, due to improved communication
with the telegraph and trains, was the influence of candidate’s
victories on states voting later in November.
If voting is not your thing (heaven forbid), why not make
a new tradition with Vote in Honor of a Veteran, a community
initiative from our Supervisors of Elections to create a Virtual
Honor Wall for our local veterans. Check out their website to add
your favorite veteran.
VETERANS DAY
Armistice Day marked the cessation of
WWI, the ‘Great War’ that was to be the war
to end all wars until that fateful morning on
December 7, 1941. After WWII and the
Korean War, the 83rd Congress, amended the
Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting in its
82 Life in Naples | November 2016
