So, online petitions are obviously bullshit. They mean nothing, and go nowhere. But there's one going around today that actually proposes a pretty good idea.
Let's Move Halloween
It's wierd, because the motives of this idea are pretty hollowly capitalist - it's by an agency that represents costume companies, and a Saturday Halloween means more costume sales. It also pushes the false narrative that Halloween is inherently unsafe, and that's also pretty shitty.
Yet I cannot think of a single reason not to adopt this change permanently. Halloween is a 100% apolitical holiday, an American hodgepodge of Pagan & Mexican traditions into one night of spooky skeletons and sweet treats. It fucking owns bones. But it's also inherently limited, falling on a school night literally 71% of the time. So why not adopt Thanksgiving rules, and just permanently set it on the last Saturday? Adults already celebrate Halloween for basically the entire month of October - this mostly just benefits kids who really only have one night for Trick or Treating.
Shit, why not do this for ALL holidays - provided they're not attached to a specific date for very obvious religious reasons. Holidays are an inherently made up concept - why not make them up in a way that benefits the most people?
Let's Move Halloween
The petition, started last year by the Halloween & Costume Association, has more than 63,000 signatures as of Thursday evening. The trade association is designed to "promote and build the celebration of Halloween in the United States," according to its website.
"It's time for a Safer, Longer, Stress-Free Celebration!" the organization wrote in its petition. "Let's move Halloween to the last Saturday of October!"
Halloween, traditionally celebrated on Oct. 31 each year, falls on a Thursday this year. If the holiday were to take place on the month's final Saturday this year, it would be on Oct. 26.
It's wierd, because the motives of this idea are pretty hollowly capitalist - it's by an agency that represents costume companies, and a Saturday Halloween means more costume sales. It also pushes the false narrative that Halloween is inherently unsafe, and that's also pretty shitty.
Yet I cannot think of a single reason not to adopt this change permanently. Halloween is a 100% apolitical holiday, an American hodgepodge of Pagan & Mexican traditions into one night of spooky skeletons and sweet treats. It fucking owns bones. But it's also inherently limited, falling on a school night literally 71% of the time. So why not adopt Thanksgiving rules, and just permanently set it on the last Saturday? Adults already celebrate Halloween for basically the entire month of October - this mostly just benefits kids who really only have one night for Trick or Treating.
Shit, why not do this for ALL holidays - provided they're not attached to a specific date for very obvious religious reasons. Holidays are an inherently made up concept - why not make them up in a way that benefits the most people?