The thing about that is, when people are on long drives to see relatives, they need somewhere to stop to go to the bathroom and get something to eat.
And this is coming from someone who used to have to work Thanksgiving, because I had to work every Thursday no matter what. I don't have to work any Thursday anymore so I never have to work on Thanksgiving, but I do have to work during a LOT of holidays, including July 4, President's Day, Easter, MLK day, Veteran's Day..... If I remember right I had to work labor day too but I am not absolutely certain. I'm actually pretty sure the only holidays I get off are Memorial Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Years Eve, and that is it (I get new year's eve instead of new year's day off because I work night shift and it makes more sense for night shift to have NYE off so we can party with everyone else. Day shift get's new year's day off instead).