Halloween: The Case for a National Holiday

It's that time of year again. Good ol' Samhain, or as it's more widely known, Halloween. My favorite of ALL the holidays. It's a celebrated tradition in my family, and has been since I was a kid, and even before I was born. Infact, it's celebrated with such furvor, it rivals Christmas in this family.  Mass amounts of candy, lights, pumpkins, decorations, costumes, movies (Most on old VHS tapes copied from TV when I was little), spooky sounds tapes, and even my own itunes playlist of fitting halloween metal songs. It's good to be "Among The Living" every once in a while! (CwatIdidthur?)

And that's just it. National statistics show that Halloween, 2nd only to Christmas, is not only the most profitable of all the holidays to businesses and establishments, but also the 2nd most celebrated and recognised holiday in the US. Well, even around the world for that matter. In a time where we have such silly holidays (Columbus Day, Valentines Day, Flag Day, Labor Day, Presidents Day, ect...), and kids being over-worked at school despite the nation saying they're behind where they should be (I blame that squarely on teachers. You can't teach a kid who doesn't wanna learn, and you can't teach a kid about something you don't wanna put time into and make interesting to them). Lets give them some time off when it'd be most advantageous to them, and make Halloween a National Holiday, and get rid of the other useless, outdated "breaks" they get. Give them the whole week off, and axe "Mid WInter Recess". Do they really need that between Christmas Break and Spring Break? It's only 3 months between them.

Also, think of it from a money stand point. Less kids in school that week, less need to pay teachers, and less money being used to pay heating bills when they're not there. More kids free to Trick Or Treat, means more people buying candy to hand out and more parents buying costumes. Also, bars and other establishments will more of an influx of older couples and younger couples without kids. Also, more people free that week, means decoration sales will shoot up aswell, as a main reason people cite for not decorating, is not enough free time to do so.

Halloween has even more of a following than other "main" holidays such as Thanksgiving, Haunaka (Sp?), St. Patrick's Day, Independance Day and Memorial Day. This is because Halloween has taken on a different meaning with people from its roots in Samhain. It's no longer about the God of the Dead, and animal sacrifices and any sort of religious overtone. The only people who whine and cry about it are those few "Christians" who fly in the face of their own religion, and seek to judge others and condem them for outdated and contradictory beliefs (Much like the ones they cling to). Which is why even athiests celebrate the holiday. Halloween is the only holiday that adapts to is surroundings, without seeming old, tired or hokey. It's become inclusionary and inviting to others, and can change to fit the times. No other holiday can do that. Most are very standard and paint-by-numbers every year. 

Making Halloween a National Holiday, by numbers and statistics alone, makes almost too much sense. That puts money in our country's pockets, and in our local and even big businesses. It cuts costs for schools, and allows for more school time later in the school year by reducing breaks by lumping them together for Halloween week. 

Most importantly, it will make our kid's live that much better by getting to experience, and learn life lessons like politeness, kindness, inclusiveness, manners and tradition, through fun. That's all Halloween ever was, and all it ever will be. Fun. 

Please be safe this Halloween, and have a great, FUN time, without judging others.