A group has started a nationwide petition to change the date of Halloween. The Halloween & Costume Association wants the spookiest day of the year to be on the last Saturday of October so that it always falls on a weekend, rather than keeping it on the 31st.
The petition is on change.org.
Halloween falls on a school day this year. However, that doesn’t take the fun away for 4-year-old Cheynne Jolivette.
She and her mother went shopping for costumes Tuesday afternoon. When asked about the petition her mother stated, “I rather stick to the tradition of celebrating on October 31st.”
The petition cites darkness as a safety concern and believes starting the celebration earlier in the day could keep kids safer and allow them to celebrate longer.
According to the group, 82 percent of parents don’t use high visibility aids on their costume, 63 percent of children don’t carry a flashlight while they trick-or-treat, 65 percent of parents don’t discuss Halloween safety with their children, and 70 percent of parents don’t accompany their children during trick-or-treating.
Not everyone is on board with the movement.
“I think we should just leave it alone,” parent Billy Pruitt said. “Leave it at the 31st. I have young kids and the weekday doesn’t bother me. It takes the fun out of having it on the day. October 31st is Halloween. You wouldn’t do Christmas on the 27th!”
