Should Halloween Be Moved?

I’ve been reading the news lately that there is a huge petition circulating asking to officially change Halloween to the last Saturday in October. The main reason behind this is convenience, as it is difficult to celebrate on a weeknight when kids have school the next day (and parents have work).

I’ve raised seven kids over thirty years of Halloween nights, as my oldest is thirty-four and my youngest is sixteen.

Yes, weeknight Halloween can be a pain. It was difficult to come home from a long day of work, rush around to get the kids ready, and make sure they were fed before we headed out to trick-or-treat. Usually they were so excited to get going, they didn’t want to take the time to eat..but that was our rule. To help things along, I always prepared a crockpot of cowboy (hamburger vegetable)soup to have ready to go. I still do this every year, even though I have no little ones to take trick-or-treating.

If costumes were especially complicated, it was total chaos. By the time we got home, removed costumes, and checked candy (and mom and dad ate a few)it was late. I’m the first to admit the morning after a weeknight Halloween was a bitch.

BUT.. you know what?  We did it. Year after year, we did it…because Halloween is October 31st. Period.

I think it’s a great idea to move the “trick or treat street” or “trick or trunk” activities to the Saturday before Halloween.  Those are fun weekend activities. Are you planning on having a big Halloween party? Throw it the weekend before! I think all of those festivities would be great on a Saturday evening, but why change the actual date of Halloween itself? It just doesn’t make sense to me.

So much is changing in the world, let’s just leave the holidays alone.

This is only my opinion. I realize people feel strongly otherwise, and feel free to comment your own opinions.  I know a few people would opt to get rid of Halloween altogether, as they feel it is evil. I love holidays, Halloween included. I hope it stays the same.