Change Halloween? Petition Seeks To Move The Day Of Celebration

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Halloween will fall on a school night and a work this year, and it will next year, too. But a petition is seeking to change that.

The Halloween & Costume Association posted a Change.org petition to President Donald Trump to move Halloween to the last Saturday of October. 

“It’s time for a safer, longer, stress-free celebration,” the petition states. “Let’s move Halloween to the last Saturday of October!”

The petition was started three months ago, but it began picking up steam recently.

As of Friday morning, the petition had more than 7,500 signatures, and the number continued to climb even as this article was being written.

“It makes more sense to have it always on a Saturday so that we don’t have to worry about getting the kids home and in bed early for school the next day,” wrote petition signer Danielle Paris. “Also, for most people, they wouldn’t have to worry about working that day or the day following.”

Some folks on social media were excited about the prospect of having the night fall on a weekend every year.

I believe yes. It’s a holiday that deserves to be on the weekend period. Easier on parents, kids, no rushing to get kids out to trick or treat on a night before school the next day, parties enjoyed more. Most parties are on the weekend anyway, just makes sense.

— Joe Schiavi (@joeS7931) October 26, 2018

Petition to change Halloween to the 4th Friday of every October so we don’t have situations like this year where it lands on a Wednesday and people have no idea if we celebrate this weekend or next

— Drew Penkala (@DrewPenkala) October 25, 2018

That’s not a horrible idea tbh

— Alexander Esver (@EsverAlexander) October 25, 2018

Still, others were caught up in the semantics of Halloween.

Halloween is the evening before the Christian holy days of All Hallows’ Day (also known as All Saints’ or Hallowmas) on 1 November and All Souls’ Day on 2 November, thus giving the holiday on 31 October the full name of All Hallows’ Eve.

— Patricia Runco (@Runcopat) October 26, 2018

No, it’s should be celebrated on the day it falls on! That’s like saying should Christmas only be on a Saturday!

— ((Wry™)) (@RIWry77) October 26, 2018

Nay. Halloween is All Hallow’ds Eve, with other near holidays for many… you’d then have to move All Souls Day, Dia de los Muertos, All Saints Day…It’s not just for parents. That’s silly. Just go early like we did.

— daisy rothschild (@daisyrothschild) October 26, 2018

Which side are you on? Keep Halloween on the 31st, even if it means having to stay up later on school and work nights? Or move the celebrations to the weekend, even if it means going against tradition?