Lawmaker Wants to Change Halloween to Another Day
Published by CA Johnson on October 26, 2011 in Alternative-
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A lawmaker wants to change Halloween to another day. Find out why he wants to change the day in this article.
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I saw an article about a lawmaker who wants to change a longstanding tradition. He wants to change Halloween to another day.
The story
A Connecticut State Rep named Tim Larson is proposing an idea to change Halloween to another day. He wants to change Halloween from October 31st to the last Saturday of October. He thinks this will be easier for working parents to be able to take their children out trick-or-treating than taking them out during the week. He wants the kids to go trick-or-treating in the afternoon instead of at night. He feels it will be safer for kids to go on Saturday afternoon while it’s still light outside instead of going at night. He also thinks that it will be more fun for kids because they won’t have to go to school the next day. They can enjoy the Halloween day without having to stop trick-or-treating so soon.
He can’t do anything about the day this year, but he’s hoping that he can make this proposal happen next year. He thinks this will be better for the economy. Even though Halloween is not declared a state holiday, he wants it to be celebrated on the last Saturday of the month the way Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday of November.
My thoughts
I am two-sided about this issue. As long as I remembered, Halloween has always been October 31st regardless of the day it landed on. I remember trick-or-treating with my sister and friends every year after school. My mother used to work at night, but she still managed to take my sister and me as well as our friends out trick-or-treating every year. I loved that time of year. It was dark, but we still had fun. It would be so weird to see kids trick-or-treating on a day that wasn’t on the 31st. It’s traditionally done on October 31st so why rock the boat? Other holidays land on days besides Saturday, but they aren’t changed. Christmas and New Years land on different days of the week, but they won’t be changed.
On the other hand, it would be safer for kids to trick-or-treat during the daytime. This will help for busy parents who have to rush and take their children out trick-or-treating before it was too late. The one thing I didn’t like about trick-or-treating was having to come home early because my mother had to go to sleep. When Halloween landed on a weekday, I didn’t like having to come home early because I had to go to school the next day. Trick-or-treating on Saturday could eliminate that problem. The kids could stay out all day and have Sunday to enjoy the candy.
What do you think of the lawmaker wanting to change Halloween to another day? Are you for this change or do you think it should stay on October 31st? I would love to know your thoughts.
I’m completely against this. What they should do instead is make November 1st a day off from school.
Thank you for reading my article. I would have liked the idea of getting that day off from school. I wish that happened when I was in school.
I am split with this. Whilst I am in the UK, some people have a similar mindset as this person you mention. It has its plus points and minus ones. I believe it is an argument that will be between a logical alternative and tradition. Good write CA.
I think it coincides with the liturgical calendar!
That’s a hard one, I like the traditional, but it would be nice for kids to sleep in the morning after. Most young children go in the early evening anyway. No, I think I like the traditional best.
Personally, I think the idea is a good one. That way people will absolutely know when Halloween is and can plan accordingly. It will be easier to have parties and things of that nature. I, also, think that it would be better and safer for the children to trick or treat in the afternoon, before dark or, at least, before it gets too late. I can remember in past years our city moving Halloween for one reason or the other, usually, because it landed on a Sunday. Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday in November, it changes every year. I can never keep up with Easter.
Cheryl, I am torn on this one for all the reasons you mentioned.
Would be good if we can of that day
It should definitely remain on its traditional date of October 31st and the changes should revolve around the children coming straight home a lot earlier after trick-or treat with their parents. a really interesting and absorbing article.
Communities all over the world already do this. Very few allow trick-or-treating on Halloween itself, and many now discourage any house-to-house begging. Instead, they hold community events, dubbed :harvest festivals.”
It would be great if happen so.. happy hallowen friend
Things have changed an it seems we as a nation or state have no say!
Have to change for the betterment of the people, or the spirit of the season will die.
lol
I can see both points of view. Here in the UK it is not such a big festival as it seems to be in other parts of the world so it probably would make too much difference to us.
Oh sure lets move Christmas and New Years too!
Note sarcasm
He’s made a good point.
It would be weird, I think parents still can make fun day for their kids.
i dont like that idea becuase i am a kid and i now i like shering candy with ur friends and whene its time for school it it gone so no plz dont cange the date it is on thnak bye
just leave it the way it is and go plz!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
100% for the change. 1st of all, I\’m a UPS driver and see the stress on myself and my customers to get home. 2nd, traffic is horrible on that day. it takes 3X as long to get home. Also, my famile and deck out our house 4 this day. Furthemore, I believe it would be great for the econmy. More people get into it. However, I would move to sunday evening. Most people dont do much on that night. Have teacher in service the next day.
It should stay the same. Halloween should always be on the 31th of Oct and All Saints Day the 1st of Nov. Somethings should not be changed.
No! I was born on Halloween. I won’t have a birthday…LOL
No, never. Lets leave Halloween alone.
We usually do not have the tradition trick or treating here, but some parts here are starting to participate. I guess, its safer in the daytime of 31st.
He should put it to a referendum before going a head to make an unpopular change!
It is good to stick to the original date, liked reading this.
I’m also two-sided on this. I agree with your pros and cons, but like you said, Halloween is a holiday tradition and it would be weird to see kids trick or treating on another day, but for safety issues, I’m on his side.
i have a real issue with this. dont our lawmakers have better things to worry about? they certainly have a long list of things to do and their time would be much better spent dealing with the banking crisis and other issues. leave halloween alone and do what we elected and pay you to do.
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iunderstandoyuwanttochangehalloweentoaanotherdaywhatthe helliswrongwithyouiwanthalloweentostayonthe31ofhalloween likeitalwayshasbenforyears