A petition to change the date of Halloween has been posted to Change.org by the Halloween & Costume Association. The petition states that Halloween should be moved to the last Saturday of the month; mostly for safety reasons.
Do you think the date of Halloween should be changed?
The association gives the following reasons on why the date should be changed:
- 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 side walks and use cross walks
- 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 that signed the petition have many reasons why Halloween should be on the last Saturday of the month:
This makes so much sense! We have so many other floating holidays. There is no reason it has to be on a set day. This would make it so much easier for kids and parents to enjoy the holiday and get good rest to be prepared for school.
It just makes perfect sense. Halloween no longer has anything to do with All Saints Day anymore and hasn’t for years. Please separate it from its original association and let it have its own day. Not only will those who celebrate All Saints’ Eve be grateful and can now focus their attention on the true intent of the “Eve” but so will those who celebrate Halloween, making it safer and convenient for young children and working adults.
Not only is Halloween my favorite holiday..What hurts is as a family we do not get to enjoy it together. So much rushing around and the kids are exhausted the next day and miserable at school. Not to mention it is safer as many parents can accompany their children.
Not everyone agrees:
“The ONLY reason they want the date changed is for money reasons. The more people trick or treat, the more costumes sold, the more money in their pocket! Get real!!” one woman wrote on the group’s Facebook page.
“This is ridiculous. People already celebrate the weekend before regardless of what day of the week it falls on. You clearly do not know the origins of Halloween. This is just to sell more costumes and decorations. Halloween is a religious holiday for some people,” another added.