Changing the Date of Halloween: Jeff Weiss

I admit it: I like to be scared. To me, it doesn't get much better than curling up on a dark, crisp night and watching a movie about ghosts, zombies, werewolves, or vampires. I also enjoy the idea of other people dressing up in costume for a night of revelry. Personally, I'll take the revelry, but pass on the costume – unless forced. Another thing on my list of favorites: candy. Add all of this up and you get Halloween.

Of course, Halloween was once primarily for children to dress in costume while “trick-or-treating,” but in recent years it has become a full fledged holiday as consumers spend millions of dollars each year on costumes, decorations, and, of course, candy. Changing the date of Halloween would make it a more convenient night to celebrate and stay up late. It would certainly make it make it less of a hassle for parents taking children out for trick-or-treating. It would also allow retailers to sell more holiday goods. But, it wouldn't make October 30th, 29th, or any other date become Halloween. Halloween is a tradition. It's a tradition that's based on a date – All Hallows Eve.

Let communities schedule their trick-or-treating for Saturday or Sunday afternoons. Let nightclubs host their Halloween parties the weekend before the event. Let cable stations air their monster movie marathons around the clock. But leave the calendar alone. Halloween is, and should always be, October 31.

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