Thousands of People Want to Change the Date of Halloween and It Could Actually Happen

    Kelly O'Sullivan
    Photo credit: Jupiterimages - Getty Images

    From Country Living

    • More than 100,000 people have signed a petition to change the date of Halloween.
    • Those in favor of moving the holiday argue it's safer and more enjoyable for both parents and children.

    People have been celebrating Halloween on the last day of October for centuries—but a few hundred-thousand parents are trying to change that.

    Last year, a non-profit organization called the Halloween & Costume Association created a petition to change the date, and celebrate Halloween on the last Saturday in October instead.

    The "Saturday Halloween Movement" recently resurfaced online and went viral, earning it more than 150,000 signatures in just a few days.

    "It's time for a Safer, Longer, Stress-Free celebration!" the organization wrote on Change.org. "Let's move Halloween to the last Saturday of October!"

    The description goes on to list a handful of unattributed statistics about "Halloween-related injuries" and the dangers of trick-or-treating at night, suggesting that a Saturday would be a safer and more enjoyable time to celebrate for children and parents alike.

    Despite the large number of people eager to change the holiday, there seem to be just as many who think it should be left alone. The petition was quickly met with resistance on social media by Halloween enthusiasts who hold October 31 close to their hearts.

    Others jokingly suggested that Halloween shouldn't be moved, but extended and celebrated for even longer (an idea we can definitely get behind).

    Some major candy brands are even taking sides. The official Twitter account for Snickers wrote that if the date is officially changed, they'll give out one million free candy bars to America.

    Ultimately, the decision will be left up to the federal government. After the petition is passed on to the White House, an "official update" will be issued within 60 days.

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