There are arguments for and against when to celebrate Halloween, and whether or not it should be changed to the last Saturday of October.
Before we get into the debate, know this: Halloween 'follows many of the traditions from the ancient Gaelic festival of Samhain, which celebrates the end of the harvest season and the start of “the dark half” of the year,' according to the History Channel. The days between the light days of summer and dark days of fall are considered the time when the veil thins between living and dead things.
Hence, Halloween on Oct. 31. But do we have to be sticklers about the date? CEO of Sincere.Com Matt Douglas is a fan of making the change.
“Wouldn’t it be better for everybody if we celebrated this awesome holiday on a weekend?" he asked. "A weekend Halloween would have a lot of benefits for a lot of people."
He says people celebrate less on a weekday.
Douglas says celebrating Halloween would be a lot safer. He says younger kids could go out earlier without having to wait for people to get home from work.
He says there are companies and retailers involved in industries related to Halloween that would benefit... not to mention school kids who could treat-or-treat on a leisurely weekend instead of a school night.
“When there is a weekday Halloween, their sales are 20 to 30 percent lower," Douglas said about industries centered on the holiday.
Douglas also asks, “Would you want to be a teacher on November 1st," noting it’s a “tough day” as instructors have to deal with sugar-fueled students from their candy collecting the night before.
Is Douglas optimistic about the celebration date change happening?
He says, “I do think it going to take a long time," but he also loves having the debate on the future fate of paper money and whether it will continue to exist.
WWL listeners had some very strong opinions on the matter. Here are some of the text messages sent to 504-260-1870:
-If the cry babies get their way to move Halloween they'll complain about thanksgiving then Christmas.
-It's a no-brainer it should be on the last Saturday of the month
-This generation is disgusting they want what they want forget tradition give me the money I'm heathen
-No way should this day be moved to the weekend. It's should be left alone. I wish people would just stop trying to change things all the time. In my day we didn't have to worry about school the next day. It was a holiday. I guess we'll have to watch Nov. 1st, too. They'll want to visit the family grave on the weekend because it's more convient.
-The last Saturday in October I don't think the kids enjoy as much with school next day and it's hard on us as parents
-Dave, hallows eve 31st All Saints Day 1st. Religious connection
-Absolutely not the last Saturday in October is reserved for adult Halloween parties. I don't have time to do both.
-Saint Charles parish simply doesn't have school on Wednesday this week, that was their solution
-They should be talking about moving The Super Bowl to a Saturday, not about moving Halloween.
-Stick with tradition. Regulating Halloween is preposterous. The bureaucrats have already destroyed more than enough.
-I have two kids and I say it should stay the same. Just have to find a way to make it work.
-I understand the argument to moving it to the last Saturday. But there's something about saying , THE THIRTY FIRST. It just makes the holiday that much spookier
-Halloween is a cross-quarter day, an astronomy holiday and can't be moved
-If Halloween is on Saturday it will interfere with college football.
-Halloween should stay where it is - on the day before All Saints' Day
-Why is this even an issue there are more important things to argue about keep Halloween the way it was and has been for many many many years
-I think Halloween should be observed NEVER!!! Abolish it!
