.
Feedback

Patch's Poll: Should The State Designate A Date For Halloween?

State representative says last Saturday in October should be the 'official' Halloween - take the poll and add your comments!

State Rep. Tim Larson (D-East Hartford, South Windsor) wants to see Halloween designated as the last Saturday in October in Connecticut, he said in a press release issued Monday.

In the release, Larson said he has talked with parents of young children that say weeknight trick or treating, such as Monday this year, presents a variety of problems for candy-stuffed children who have to get up early for school and limits the ability of everyone to enjoy celebrating.

He also noted in the release that Saturday allows for kid-friendly daytime events and the youngest goblins can begin their candy trek a little earlier when visibility is better.

“Halloween is a fun night for the whole family, but not so much when you have to race home from work, get the kids ready for trick or treating, welcome the neighborhood children, and then try to get everyone to bed for an early school and work morning,” Larson said in the release. “Halloween has also become one of the top holidays for retailers selling candy, decorations, costumes and general party supplies. Jobs are created by this holiday, so let’s make it a little more fun and safe for everyone, and create some jobs too.”        

With Halloween only a week away, Larson said he does not expect his Saturday proposal to come up during the upcoming special session of the legislature, but is hopeful the 2012 General Assembly will consider the idea.

“This would be good for the economy and make Halloween a more family-friendly event every year,” he said in the release. “Everyone looks forward to Halloween a little more when it falls on the weekend.”

What do you think? Take our poll and add your thoughts in the comments!

Millie Donovan October 24, 2011 at 10:30 pm
I read this on FB and YES! Exactly! Well said Heather.
Maureen Lutar October 24, 2011 at 10:35 pm
We have managed to santize everything. I get the point, and if it's legislated, we'll comply. But, isn't too bad that we have to regulate every part of our lives to what is expedient and comfortable? In my opinion these small celebration days will lose thier value, especially to the kids - just let it be.
Paul Petrone (Editor) October 24, 2011 at 10:43 pm
This is on Waterford Patch's Facebook, from reader Karen Negrelli-Griggs:
"NO leave the holiday's were they are suppose to be! Before you know it you will be trying to change Christmas!!!! You know, if it's on a school night or not kids aren't out that late gosh, if u are a parent and want your younger childr...en in by a certain time then that's your choice. U should be going around with a child until he or she is at least in 5th grade and they shouldn't be eatting candy while trick or treating until u check it, hello isn't that the way its always has been!"
Lynda J. Jean October 24, 2011 at 10:56 pm
There are more important issues that the government should be looking into....good lord
LadyMaMa October 24, 2011 at 11:00 pm
R. Lee Balderdash, you rock!
Lynn October 24, 2011 at 11:52 pm
I think the idea of actually changing Halloween or any other holiday for the sake of convenience is insane. While in theory - convenience is always a nice idea, but really?! Change the entire holiday for the state? Why not help families by suggesting a certain day (the Last Saturday in October) for retailers to all schedule their own celebrations that they want to offer to families so we can all easily plan family activities around these outings and then we as individual families can decide for ourselves how we chose spend the true holiday the way we'd like & retailers can still turn a profit...
Tambria Moore October 25, 2011 at 12:49 am
what I wrote the congressman:I am writing this notify you I take a serious stand of opposition to your proposal to move Halloween to a Saturday. Halloween is a religious holiday of a minority religion and should not be moved for the sake of convenience of non-religious persons who choose to 'trick or treat'. I have several friends of the Druid/Celtic persuasion who celebrate the true meaning of this day and moving it would be akin to moving Christmas or Easter for non-christians. If you would like to understand more about this ancient holiday, a Samhain Vespers in the Huntington Street Chapel in New London is being held in anticipation of the holiday
Tambria Moore October 25, 2011 at 12:50 am
Wednesday, October 26 · 6:00pm - 8:30pm
All Souls UU Congregation, New London Children’s service at 6 pm • Adult service at 7:30pm A soup-er supper will be served at 6pm Samhain is the Pagan festival of Celtic origin that honors the harvest and the New Year. It is also a time for honoring our dearly departed. All of these themes are woven together for a lovely evening of reflection and celebration. Vespers is traditionally an evening service that is contemplative in nature. With a combination of story, poetry, and music we are able to glean the wisdom of the holiday while we allow the beauty of the service to have its way within our hearts and minds. Bring a photograph of your dearly departed so that we may create an altar together. An autumnal supper (soup & bread) will be served prior to the service at 6:00pm. The children and their families are welcome to join in after their service concludes.
Elizabeth Anderson October 25, 2011 at 01:18 am
Another brilliant idea from the brain trust in Hartford! Halloween is All Hallows Eve - October 31st. It would be absurd to change it.
Katherine Makuchowski October 25, 2011 at 01:31 am
Where I grew up the localities set Trick or Treat nights. I find it strange that the towns here do not. I do not think it is appropriate for the state to be declaring an official Halloween. Its a holiday that will be celebrated by those who choose to do so, when they choose to do so.
Teresa Schlotman Wilensky October 25, 2011 at 03:00 am
Wasn't it part of the fun to be out trick or treating on a school night? Didn't that make it all the more exotic? I am pretty sure that one, late, candy-filled night a year - on the years when Halloween does not fall on the weekend- should not be the cause of that much distress. Quoting Rep. Larson " Halloween has become one of the top holidays for retailers..." and this has occurred without manipulating the date. So I am pretty sure we can leave Halloween alone and everyone will manage it just fine. The school districts could consider scheduling their fall Professional Development Day on Nov. 1 to help with the candy-hangovers but that does not need to be legislated, it is just an idea.
Maureen Davis Reubelt October 25, 2011 at 09:07 am
YES. Make Halloween the last Saturday in October.
As a teacher and a parent, the excitement around Halloween is evident in schools and homes. Teachers usually focus the school day around "fun activities" and education that day is minimal. The next day, after Halloween, the kids are tired from too much candy and not enough sleep and come to school toting tons of candy. So in a sense, another school day is complicated. I agree with the comments that legislating this seems extreme, Making the day after Halloween could be made a professional development day for teachers and the kids can at least sleep in and be ready for school the next day.
Elissa Bass (Editor) October 25, 2011 at 09:21 am
On Southeastern Connecticut Patchs' Facebook page (www.facebook.com/SECTPatch), reader Bill Kenny wrote: "I think if you want to go to Halloween by yourself the state should not make you bring a date."
Luis Smart October 25, 2011 at 10:01 am
In the release, Larson said he has talked with parents of young children that say weeknight trick or treating, such as Monday this year, presents a variety of problems for candy-stuffed children who have to get up early for school and limits the ability of everyone to enjoy celebrating.
What if the parents just PARENT their kids. Be the adult , Holloween has worked like this for a few years now.
Naomi Rodriguez October 25, 2011 at 11:42 am
Are you kidding me!!! Leave it alone and move on to the important issues.
Andrea Trout October 25, 2011 at 11:48 am
Growing up in New Hampshire...and spending many years trick-or-treating, Halloween trick-or-treating was ALWAYS held on the Saturday prior to the actual holiday. When we moved to CT back in 1996 I would ask people when the trick or treaters would be around so I could be armed with loads of candy...of course I would get funny looks. "It's on October 31st" they would say; that's Halloween. "OH" I see how it works down here in CT now. Now that I have 2 smaller school aged children I think to myself "Wow...celebrating it on a Monday - with school the next morning". UGGHHHH!
Darcy Sordo October 25, 2011 at 11:52 am
Ridiculous! I can't believe any politician is wasting their time on this isuue...simply ridiculous!
Water Ford October 25, 2011 at 12:10 pm
Maybe our legislatures could also move the Super Bowl, Christmas, New Years and Independence Day to Saturdays? Complete waste of time and our tax money. If Tim Larson used a government pen or paper to write this silly suggestion he should be sanctioned.
Government doesn’t have an income problem, it has a spending problem.
Sarah C October 25, 2011 at 12:13 pm
Not only do I think that the government should leave Halloween alone, I think they should return Columbus' Day, Veteran's Day, President's Day, and all the other holidays they moved around, to their original dates. Most of us work those days and don't get a 3-day weekend anyway.
BJ October 25, 2011 at 12:33 pm
This is a great illustration of what the government is, and what those in power want: POWER over EVERYTHING! WAKE UP people and take your country back.
IRON-MAN October 25, 2011 at 01:44 pm
Leave Halloween alone!!!! Its for the kids
EnviroMom October 25, 2011 at 01:52 pm
If you are going to bother to take a poll can you at least ask the questions in a less bias way? Asking "Yes, we need all holidays managed by the government" is not the same as asking "Yes, because it's better for the children and families" or "Yes, that seems like a good idea." Your poll is completely invalid because of the biased way you stated the options for answering. People who might have answered Yes may not be the same people who would agree that 'all holidays need to be managed by the government"
I myself am on the fence about it. It would probably be more enjoyable to have trick or treating on the Saturday before. But it's also fun to have that special night. And the 31st could be the "rain date", because having a washout on trick or treat night is such a disappointment!
Elissa Bass (Editor) October 25, 2011 at 02:42 pm
Hi EnviroMom, Because it is such a minor issue, we thought we'd have a little fun with this one. Have a great day!
Momof2 October 26, 2011 at 02:38 am
OMG!! To think that this man is an elected official with this suggestion! No wonder the government has so many problems. If it's such a rush to get home from work & get the kids out trick or treating, then don't do it!! If the parents are so worried about the kids filling up on candy..here's an idea...try being a parent rather than a friend & tell them NO!! When I was a kid, I was allowed a certain number of pieces for the night and then that was it til the next day. Worked for me & I didn't turn out scarred or damaged because my parents actually asserted authority. Some of these younger parents today want everything done for their convenience...guess what?? Being a parent actually involves being inconvenienced sometimes! Imagine that!!
Corey Sipe October 26, 2011 at 05:16 am
A lot of night clubs, bars, and other entertainment venues already celebrate Halloween the Saturday before. Mixing that (possibly folks drinking during the day and night hours) with trick or treaters is a combination for disaster. It's been my experience that most parents actually bring their kids back home by 8 or 8:30pm; plenty of time to get to bed to get to school the next day.
Eric B October 26, 2011 at 05:22 am
Dirk, you're the editor of this news site. Please consider that it may be inappropriate to quote from other sources, even if those sources are associated. Perhaps your only goal is to stir up conversation, but when it really matters will there be a difference between that and stirring the pot?
Carly Fisher October 26, 2011 at 02:39 pm
Aren't there more important issues at hand? Is the government procrastinating getting down to real business by dreaming up things to "fix" or change that aren't broke? Someone above mentioned parents actually parenting and setting limits - Amen!! Government needs to work on their own issues... I will take care of my household as I see fit! If parents need help from the government "parenting" ...then they should be parents in the first place!
justin post October 27, 2011 at 01:11 am
Ok I have a better idea instead of worrying about making holidays more "convienent" for others. How bout you take the old norwhich state hospital and turn it into low income housing for those who can't afford to live any wear else or try making the towns look better or get the schools the actuall funding they need. "Oh that's right because changing the day halloween falls on is more important" right its not like there are kids out there who need food and clothes and a place to call home because their parents or gaurdians can't afford everything
justin post October 27, 2011 at 01:58 pm
so you want the taxes from the kids eating candy??? how desperate
Nancy December 7, 2011 at 11:01 am
while i usually comment appropriately, i must say that all the commercialism and offensive use of any and all 'holidays' has made each of them trite and insignificant. the original meanings of these special times has been changed to appeal to the profiteering and exploitive people who could care less about the safety and security of their 'loved ones'. any holiday has become a pre-emptive opportunity by politicians, retailers and woosified mommy's to whine about some inconvenience in their dreaded life.

Newsletter & Alerts

Get the best stories each day and important breaking news

Subscribe

Not from Montville Patch? Find your Local Patch »

Note Article
Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something