As a kid, and even as college students, a lot of us circle Oct. 31 on our calendars. We now look forward to Halloween for reasons different than we did as a kid. As we get older, we don’t go trick-or-treating anymore, but we all still like dressing up and seeing our friends.
For many, it has been convenient the past few years that Halloween has fallen on the weekend. That way, kids don’t have to go to school after a late night of trick or treating and we don’t have to go back to work or classes the next day. I’ve noticed that when Halloween falls on a weekday, I see less trick-or-treaters as many stay home altogether or end their time out early in anticipation of school the next morning. Ultimately, in recent years, it seems like more people have been enjoying the holiday when it falls on a weekend. Based on that observation, why isn’t it always on a weekend?
Keeping Halloween on a Saturday every year would keep everyone happy, as we’ve seen the past few years. Having Halloween be on a day of the week that there is no school gives children the luxury to start early and trick-or-treat all night. When Halloween was on a weekend when I was a kid, I was able to do two additional neighborhoods as opposed to just mine consisting of small streets. That way, I would also get to spend the entire day with my friends rather than just 2-3 hours.
Halloween can also safer when it falls on the weekends, mainly because of the lack of traffic on the roads. Families are given an excuse to stay home on the holiday weekend to watch over their families or tend to trick-or-treaters. During the weekdays, however, a big concern is people coming home from work. I always noticed how I was more worried crossing the street on a Halloween Wednesday as opposed to a Sunday. I couldn’t cross the street freely those years, but on the weekends, it felt a lot safer and okay to get to the next house.
If more kids are trick-or- treating, obviously more candy is needed. Moving Halloween to fall on the last Saturday of October is an advantageous move for candy companies. Historically, according to the National Retail Federation, candy sales are higher on years that the 31st falls on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. If this tradition was kept, sales could hopefully grow higher as more kids are encouraged to trick-or-treat without the limitations of a bedtime. This year, candy sales haven’t been as high as they should be, but a lot of that has to do with the rising prices of candy and the current economy. With many families struggling to afford everyday necessities, spending extra money on Halloween candy can be difficult. Even though candy companies may not lower their prices, moving Halloween to a Saturday could give families more time to plan, budget, and enjoy the holiday without feeling rushed.
Therefore, it is my strong belief that Halloween should be moved from October 31st every year to the last Saturday in October.
Kids could stay safer with fewer cars on the road during the evening commute, families wouldn’t have the same time limitations as they do with weekday holidays, and candy companies could benefit from families having more time to shop and celebrate. Without the stress of school, work, and other weekday responsibilities, the magic of Halloween can continue to thrive without being tied to October 31st. Halloween should be about creating memories, spending time with family and friends, and letting kids be kids. Moving it to Saturday would make the holiday more enjoyable for everyone.
