My parents just informed me that when they were young, they went to school and work the day after Thanksgiving. Also, they went to school for a half-day on Christmas Eve, and back to school on the 26th. Same for New Year’s Eve: half-day on the 31st, day off on the 1st, back on the 2nd.
This year, I am thankful that I didn’t grow up in the 1950s.