Halloween has always been October 31st, but Massachusetts law makers could be looking to change that.
Mass live reports that Pembroke Selectman Arthur Boyle has proposed a new bill that would move Halloween to the last Saturday of October. Boyle argues that moving the holiday could help law enforcement to keep the festivities of the night safer, but just the suggestion of change already has people up in arms on both sides of the debate.
Would moving Halloween really be beneficial? There are definitely some pros to consider. Being a weekend day, Saturday allows more adults to be home, both ensuring guidance for young trick-or-treaters and eliminating much of the nightly traffic that the children must be wary of. It also allows many who indulge in the night's festivities to do so freely, as few have work or school to worry about on Sunday morning.
Still, there is opposition to the change. Some have argued that by making Halloween on a weekend night, incidents of vandalism will increase. Those who put the "trick" in "trick-or-treat" will suddenly find themselves with more freedom to engage in mischief. Others simply don't see the need for change; Halloween has been celebrated on October 31st longer than any of us have been alive, generally without many major issues. They don't see a need to change tradition.
The argument about tradition shouldn't be seriously considered in the face of safety concerns. Vandalism is a valid point, but a Saturday holiday would also allow police to be more prepared and free to remain vigilant against crime. Considering that the modern celebration of Halloween is meant to be celebrated and enjoyed by people of all ages, the pros seem to outweigh the cons when it comes to changing the timing. Holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving are recognized as national holidays and allow for people to enjoy the day off. Moving Halloween to Saturday could help to give the day of festivities something closer to that.
Ultimately Halloween is celebrated as people decide to celebrate it. "Tradition" may not be much of an argument if change could have the potential to make it a safer and more enjoyable holiday, however, the will of the majority will win out. If the people are resistant to the change than it will not happen. Halloween can easily be moved, but it's even easier to just leave it where it has always been.
How do you feel? Would you like to see Halloween moved to a more flexible day of the week? Or is the traditional changing day part of the fun? Let us know!
