Halloween and all that comes with it is my favorite time of the year. The cooler weather, the colors of Fall and of course, creepy, scary Halloween decor, movies, etc. With that being said, Halloween is traditionally recognized by October 31st but now, thousands of people have signed a petition to change the date of Halloween. In fact, more than 100,000 people have at this point!
You might be wondering what made this strange petition begin in the first place.
Well, last year it was started by the Halloween & Costume Association. The association is designed to “promote and build the celebration of Halloween in the United States,”
according to its website.
The petition was started by them to help encourage a safer Halloween for all.
It’s time for a Safer, Longer, Stress-Free Celebration! Let’s move Halloween to the last Saturday of October! – The organization in their petition.
In addition, they list several statistics and reasons behind the idea to move Halloween. Those being:
- 3,800 Halloween-related injuries each year. Talk to your kids about safety before they head out!
- 82% of parents don’t use high visibility aids on their costume, be sure to incorporate reflective tape, glow sticks, finger lights or light up accessories
- 63% of children don’t carry a flashlight while they are tick-or-treating. Grab a clip-on light if they don’t want to carry one! Children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween. Discuss safety, pre-plan a route, stay on sidewalks and use crosswalks
- 65% of parents don’t discuss Halloween safety with their children. Talk with your kids and offer ways to ensure a fun and safe experience
- 70%of parents don’t accompany their children trick-or-treating. You’re never too old to trick-or-treat! Grab a costume and take advantage of some good ol’ fashioned family bonding!
- 51% Of Millennials say Halloween is their favorite holiday, why cram it into 2 rushed evening weekday hours when it deserves a full day!?!
People not only agree, they are signing the petition and asking for the President to make this happen. Currently there is more than 103,000 signatures with a new goal of 150,000 signatures!
Personally, I get why they’d want to change the date for safety reasons but should we change something that has been a tradition for so long? It’d be hard trying to remember Halloween every year without attaching a firm date to it. Maybe that’s just me…
If it did change, Halloween would fall on Saturday, October 26th this year.
So, what do you think? Does Halloween’s date need to be changed?
You can
view the full petition here.
October 31st has been called. All Hallows Eve ad part of history which is followed by All Saints Day. It was not crested as a time to dress incostumes and go door to door for treats. Why don’t you consider leaving Jallowenn alone and establish another day firbtrjvk,or treat? We’ve messed with holidays and traditions long enough
Leave Halloween alone!!If we start changing things everything will change because people don’t like it! That is stupid to start changing things now.
Well to me to change the date is stupid. What makes you think any of the statistics or things parents need to teach will change because, the date changes. It will not matter. Leave Halloween alone for goodness sakes.
Will Christians ever stop appropriating other religions celebrations? Halloween is Sanhaim, a sacred pagan holiday. Stop already. They stole Christmas and Easter. Leave Halloween alone. Imagine the uproar if we tried to move Christmas.
Halloween means All Halliw’s Eve which is October 31st. All Hallow’s Day (All Saint’s Day) is November 1st. It is ridiculous to change Halloween to the last Saturday in October. Parents need to take responsibility for their children ‘s safety, if they allow them to go trick or treating, while dark.
Halloween is my birthday and I will be damned if I live to see the day it isn’t!!!! I can’t imagine!!! This makes me so mad!!!! You can’t just change the way something has always been because it is more convenient!!!!
This is ridiculous! The name “Halloween” means “All Hallow’s Eve, meaning the eve of All Saint’s Day which is ALWAYS on November 1st. I’m all for trick or treating and stuff being done on the last Sat. of October, but changing the date of the holiday would rob the holiday of its name.
Oh, my. I am so tired of this stuff.
Halloween IS October 31st.
Christmas IS December 25th.
New Year IS January 1.
Easter IS the first Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox.
We do not need to move holidays to a Saturday (or to a Monday to make a 3 day weekend) cuz some people want to party on their own terms.
Sheez.
I must admit, I thought I was imagining things when I saw the title “changing the day of Halloween”. While my first instinct was to think “absurd”, after reading the reasons why, I am completely on board! More time for the much loved holiday celebrations, safety, and an opportunity for the community to be involved! I love it.