The Halloween and Costume Association (formerly the Halloween Industry Alliance) has launched a campaign calling on the industry and general public to move Halloween celebrations, including trick or treating, to the last Saturday in October.
The organisation has launched a Change.org petition calling for the change to be made official and it currently has just under 500 signatures.
There are a number of safety and practicality points which have been raised by the campaign, including the fact that parents will have time to talk to their children about safety before they head out for the celebrations – there are 3,800 Halloween-related injuries each year, which could be avoided.
“Children are also more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween,” said director of marketing, Aneisha McMillan. “Some 65% of parents don’t discuss Halloween safety with their children. Take the time to talk with your kids and offer ways to ensure a fun and safe experience.”
“More than half of all millennials (51%) say Halloween is their favourite holiday,” she concluded, explaining some more of the benefits of celebrating on a Saturday each year. “Why cram it into two rushed evening weekday hours when it deserves a full day?!”
