State Rep. Wants to Move Halloween
by Hugh McQuaid | Oct 24, 2011 2:00pm
(9) Comments | Commenting has expired
Posted to: State Capitol, Special Session
With Halloween just a week away, Rep. Tim Larson, D- East Hartford, issued as statement calling for Connecticut to officially designate the holiday as the last Saturday of October.
Halloween is not an official state holiday but has traditionally been observed on Oct. 31. This year if falls on a Monday.
Larson said after talking with parents of small children, he believes it’s problematic when the holiday falls on a weeknight. It’s difficult for parents to get their sugar-saturated trick-or-treaters off to bed in time for school the next morning, he said.
Moving the festivities to a Saturday would also enable the younger children to kick off their trick-or-treating earlier in the day when visibility is better, he said.
“Halloween is 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. “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.”
The designation would be similar to the governor’s proclamation each year that Thanksgiving be observed on the fourth Thursday of November, he said.
But Gov. Dannel P. Malloy likes Halloween where it is.
“Governor Malloy is afraid that ghouls, goblins and witches might get confused. So with all due respect to Representative Larson, the governor is going to keep Halloween on Oct. 31,” Malloy’s spokeswoman Colleen Flanagan said.
Still, Larson is hopeful the legislature might take up the idea, though he admitted it the proposal was an unlikely candidate for Wednesday’s jobs-focused special session. He said he hopes to see it considered during the 2012 legislative session.
“This would be good for the economy and make Halloween a more family-friendly event every year,” he said. “Everyone looks forward to Halloween a little more when it falls on the weekend.”
Sen. Rob Kane, R- Watertown, lead Republican on the legislature’s Appropriations Committee, contested that moving Halloween would do nothing to help the state’s economy.
“While well-intentioned, this proposal symbolizes what’s wrong with Connecticut government,” he said. “Less government is the answer to our fiscal problems. You want to create jobs in Connecticut? Start by getting government out of the private sector’s way. Start by lowering taxes and regulations. More laws like these will continue to take Connecticut in the wrong direction.”
Tags: Halloween, Hugh McQuaid, Tim Larson
(9) Comments
posted by: Jpmesq | October 24, 2011 4:42pm
Rep. Larson isn’t aware that Halloween is set on October 31 each year because it is the eve of All Saint’s Day, an important Christian holiday? If he wants to change the date, he shouldn’t ask Gov. Malloy, he should ask the Pope, an authority of at least equal power.
posted by: ... | October 24, 2011 5:15pm
If we cannot get something as simple as Sunday Sales passed in the Legislature, we surely cannot pass a ‘Halloween is Saturday’ bill. It is a well intentioned idea, but one that doesn’t do much for society as a whole. Plenty of adults, college students, etc. hold parties and ‘trick or treat’ designated nights locally on the weekends of Halloween anyways.
posted by: Luther Weeks | October 24, 2011 5:25pm
I was going to check on some of the job creating bill Senator Kane introduced last year, but the Legislature’s bill search is timing out just now.
I do know he introduced the bill for Online Voting for Military Voters which would be costly and risky, unlikely to create jobs in Connecticut, even though a pilot program cost WV over $1,000 per voter and there are much less costly conventional means available to solve the problem.
Unfortunately, the Legislature initially ignored the concerns of the vast majority of scientists and the testimony of the Secretary of the State that it was too risky. Fortunately, the bill was changed to just require the Secretary to make a report, rather then implement.
This Thursday she is holding a symposium hosting experts from around the globe to provide input to the report. CCSU 5-7pm: http://www.sots.ct.gov/sots/cwp/view.asp?a=3176&Q=487176
Hopefully CTNewsJunkie will cover it.
posted by: GoatBoyPHD | October 24, 2011 7:16pm
The 3-day Festival—Halloween, All Souls and All Saints has a Hispanic counterpart in the Day of the Dead celebration and the overlay of voodoo and Aztec culture.
What’s wrong with Larson? Is he a pagan or something? Move Halloween?
posted by: Enfield Gets It | October 25, 2011 9:56am
Larson, if you have this much time on your hands, please retire.
posted by: Opining Quill | October 25, 2011 10:45am
Are you sure this is about the children and not the adults?
http://wp.me/pPLAn-kJ
posted by: Witchy Woman | October 28, 2011 12:36am
@ Goatboy…...halloween started as a pagan holiday…read up on you history.
http://www.neopagan.net/Halloween-Origins.html
posted by: LadyArhianna | October 28, 2011 10:39am
Do none of you do research? Halloween is an ancient Pagan holiday called Samhain. It’s not just a christian thing. Several religions believe in the importance of the holiday and its date. Moving it is rediculous.
posted by: lkulmann | November 6, 2011 10:14am
We finally celebrated our belated Halloween last night in Waterbury. My son has MASTERED the task of trick or treating. I would like to change Halloween to the ‘State Holiday’ like the State flower, bird and so on…simply because there are always skeletons in CT’s closets. Booooooooooo!!!!!