2009.10.28
Halloween as a Saturday holiday and mall trick-or-treats
This Saturday is Halloween. Here's an interesting interview by the National Retail Federation with Steven Silverstein, who is CEO of Spencer's, which also owns Spirit Halloween. Both stores have Roanoke locations, though Spirit Halloween is only open temporarily through this Saturday.
In the interview, Silverstein talks about his stores and why he has been advocating to officially move Halloween to the last Saturday of October every year. What's your take on this kind of move?
If you're looking for places to take your children trick-or-treating this Saturday, keep in mind that several Roanoke Valley malls have trick-or-treating times for kids.
On Saturday, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. children can trick-or-treat at the stores at Tanglewood Mall in Roanoke County. At 5 p.m., there also will be a Halloween story-time event in the mall's center court area and a costume contest at 6:30 p.m.
Valley View Mall also has trick-or-treating at its mall stores this Saturday, from 5 to 7 p.m.
For those of us in the pagan community who celebrate Halloween as a religous holiday (yes, there are those of us for whom this is a sacred holiday and no we are not heathens or devil-worshippers) moving the date is offensive. How would a Christian feel if we determined that Christmas would be celebrated only on a weekend each year? Or Easter? I find it just as offensive when localities designate a different day to celebrate on the years Halloween falls on a Sunday.
Comment by J — October 28, 2009 @ 10:02 am
I'm not pagan but I agree with J. Halloween is October 31 for a reason, no need to water it down. It's no surprise that it's a retailer who wants Halloween to be on $$$aturday night.
Comment by tass — October 28, 2009 @ 5:07 pm
Ummm...I think Easter IS on a weekend every year. Sigh...
Comment by Rob — October 28, 2009 @ 9:21 pm
For us at Fun Times Party Warehouse in Salem, Halloween is our busiest time of the year.
Sure, you have places like Spirit that come to town, take the money and leave...to them it's all about the money...nothing else...so sense of community.
Our customers tell us our prices are lower and they love supporting local businesses...we would NEVER consider supporting a move of Halloween. For us it's about the community...the people. How strange would it be to not have Halloween fall on October 31st?
It's bad enough when they changed DST...I always like it darker, earlier on Halloween...a sense of mystery and excitement.
Leave it up to big companies...some call themselves "leaders"...when all they really are is money hungry....nothing else.
Comment by Craig — October 29, 2009 @ 7:11 am
We could just make Christmas always a Friday too so we could get a long weekend every year. Stupid idea.
Comment by Kristen — October 29, 2009 @ 7:28 am
As a teacher, I would support the permanent move of the trick-or-treat part of Halloween to Saturday each year. In years when Halloween falls during the week, children are out of control at school all day on the 31st because they are so excited, and either too hopped up on candy or too tired to learn on the first.
Comment by Heather — October 29, 2009 @ 8:28 am
easter actually IS moved ever year. It's always on a sunday, no matter what the actual physical date is, and christian's haven't had a problem with it......
Comment by laughing — October 29, 2009 @ 8:40 am
Sorry - I re-read my post this morning and realized I didn't phrase that well. I do realize Easter is on a weekend every year and is in fact tied to the calendar of moon cycles and the Spring Equinox. The point I was trying to make is that many faiths celebrate their holidays on a certain day or at a certain time for a reason and those holidays do not need to be changed to suit the needs of retail. A better example would be to tell everyone that Christmas will now always be on a Monday so we can get all the weekend shopping done and Easter will now fall on the 5th of April every year - Sunday or not - because we want people to get their first of the month paychecks and by more Easter bunny stuff.
It's all ridiculous - leave any type of religous holiday alone whether it is your faith or not. Halloween is the midpont between the fall equinox and winter solstice so the the date is significant.
Comment by J — October 29, 2009 @ 10:45 am
I support the move of Halloween to Saturday because of the kids.Some Parents keep their kids from trick or treating because of the School night factor. Sure Most don't but it that doesn't mean it's a bad idea. I can see the people who view it as their holy day being upset but they can still celebrate, it's All Hallow's Eve even if kids aren't out collecting candy.
Comment by Lisa Wilson — October 30, 2009 @ 1:28 am
Hilarious to move an actual holiday to accomodate candy eating. What a country.
fwiw...I seriously doubt Halloween's going to be moved. Maybe people just need to not let their kids shovel candy down their throats.
Comment by Kristen — October 31, 2009 @ 8:36 am
Jenny: I spoke with the manager at Avenue about not handing out Halloween candy. Very nice lady and she said they did want to give out candy but their company said no. As a matter of fact the employees themselves at Avenue at Tanglewood have given their own money each year to give out candy which is a feather in their hat. The company was afraid a child might get a reaction to peanut candy or something like that so they passed down the word not to hand out candy this year.
Comment by Hoppy — November 8, 2009 @ 9:02 am