Some People Want To Move Halloween So That It’s Always On A Saturday

Halloween is a lot of fun for people of all ages. Whether you go trick-or-treating as a kid, attend an adult costume party with spooky cocktails or just kick back at home watching seasonal movies and carving pumpkins, there are plenty of great ways to celebrate the holiday.

Since Halloween is on Oct. 31, the day of the week that it falls on changes from year to year. When it falls on a weekday, it can be difficult to fit in much holiday fun between school, work and other responsibilities.

That’s why some people are petitioning to change Halloween from Oct. 31 to the last Saturday of October — regardless of what date that falls on — in order to maximize everyone’s revelry. The petition was started by the Halloween & Costume Association three months ago, and it’s called the “Saturday Halloween Movement.”

More than 27,000 people have signed the petition on Change.org so far. In the petition, the organization cites several statistics in an effort to show the potential benefits of the move, such as the claim that 51 percent of millennials say Halloween is their favorite holiday.

“Why cram it into two rushed evening weekday hours when it deserves a full day!?!” the petitioners ask.

In addition to a more relaxed schedule, the organization claims that moving the holiday to a Saturday will help improve safety for kids, as they won’t be trick-or-treating in the dark or without adults present.

But not everyone’s a fan of Halloween being moved. On an October 26 post on the association’s Facebook page, Sandra wrote, “What’s next….change Christmas day so that it always falls on a weekend? I think kids get enough candy in the two or three hours they go trick and treating.”

Facebook user Sandra (yes, two different Sandras!) agreed, adding a comment that was a little blunter: “Stupid idea. Leave it alone. If someone wants to celebrate it on a Saturday, be my guest. But don’t force it on everyone else.”

And another Facebook commenter, Pete, said he wanted an explanation, writing: “Please explain how changing halloween from the 31st to the last saturday of the month will make halloween safer?” He added: “Perhaps go find out what a real movement is.”

Halloween originated with the ancient Celts, who lived more than 2,000 years ago and who celebrated on Oct. 31, so changing the date would definitely be bucking a long-held tradition.

Are you in favor of a Saturday-only Halloween or do you think we should stick with Oct. 31?