Thousands sign petition to change date of Halloween

An online petition is calling for the spookiest day of the year to change from October 31. Photo / 123RF

An online petition is calling for the spookiest day of the year to change from October 31.

A US group, Halloween & Costume Association, started a change.org petition, to move the celebration to the last Saturday of October.

"It's time for a Safer, Longer, Stress-Free Celebration! Let's move Halloween to the last Saturday of October!" the group wrote on online to the President of the United States.

The petition with the goal of 35,000 signatures has gather over 25,000 since Friday afternoon.

The group claims there are "3,800 Halloween-related injuries each year" and "65% of parents don't discuss Halloween safety with their children".

"Why cram it into 2 rushed evening weekday hours when it deserves a full day!?!" the group asked.

A few left comments agreeing with the points the group made.

"It makes more sense to have it always on a Saturday so that we don't have to worry about getting the kids home and in bed early for school the next day," one woman commented on the petition.

"Also, for most people, they wouldn't have to worry about working that day or the day following."

For children, trick-or-treating "would be much safer if celebrated during daylight hours, which can only happen on non-school days like Saturday," a man also wrote.

However, not everyone agreed with all of the group's arguments.

"The ONLY reason they want the date changed is for money reasons. The more people trick or treat, the more costumes sold, the more money in their pocket! Get real!!" one woman wrote on the group's Facebook page.

"This is ridiculous. People already celebrate the weekend before regardless of what day of the week it falls on. You clearly do not know the origins of Halloween. This is just to sell more costumes and decorations. Halloween is a religious holiday for some people," another added.