Thousands Want to Change Halloween's Date

There's a (very) small movement underway to separate Halloween from Oct. 31. The Halloween & Costume Organization has launched a Change.org petition in support of moving the spooky holiday to the last Saturday in October, with some 7,400 people currently on board. Halloween, or "All Hallows' Eve," falls on Oct. 31 simply because that's the eve of Nov. 1, which was declared by Pope Gregory III to be a day honoring all saints, reports Good Housekeeping.

But the trade group says the move would mean less stress for parents, greater parental supervision of trick-or-treaters, and improved safety (the petition references the 3,800 Halloween-related injuries that occur each year). It's an argument meant to convince President Trump, at whom the petition is directed. If Congress wants to weigh in on when it should be celebrated, however, Halloween will first need to be declared a federal holiday. (A mayor plans to round up sex offenders on Halloween.)