New Jersey should make Halloween the last Saturday in October
While Halloween has its origins in religious celebrations and traditions, it has definitely become a secular non-religious holiday all over the United States.
We have no problem celebrating most of our national or state holidays on a Monday near the holiday's actual date.
We also celebrate Memorial Day on the last Monday of May and Labor Day on the first Monday of September.
I am all for tradition and honoring the actual dates of holidays, but we have to give parents a break.
This year Halloween falls on a Monday.
No parent wants to try to get their kids all hopped up on sugar from all the candy they collect going door-to-door to get to bed on time on a school night.
Parents are busy with work schedules and kids' homework assignments, it's crazy to try and pull this off on a weeknight.
Also, parents like to celebrate as well with a glass of wine or beer or two.
Why not have it on the last Saturday of October? That's what most people and establishments do with their Halloween parties.
Mayors of many New Jersey towns have adjusted their hours of trick-or-treating due to weather events or even COVID a couple of years ago.
Some smart, forward-thinking, constituent-minded, parent-empathizing legislator in New Jersey should craft a bill to make that a reality.
Oh wait, I'm not sure we have a majority of those in our state.
Surely there must be one or two who can at least propose it.
How about making it one of those referendum questions on the next ballot?!
If we hear of such a bill coming out of Trenton anytime soon, we don't want credit for coming up with the idea....well maybe a tax credit would be nice.
Opinions expressed in the post above are those of New Jersey 101.5 talk show host Dennis Malloy only.
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