Image Credit: The Canadian Press

By Mel Rothenburger

ARMCHAIR MAYOR

ROTHENBURGER: Why there are so many petitions to change Hallowe’en

Oct 31, 2019 | 4:54 AM

KAMLOOPS — HALLOWE’EN IS A ROYAL PAIN in the Poltergeist, isn’t it?

Nobody likes having to grab boxes of leftover miniature candy bars from the super market at the last minute but we do it so the trick or treaters have something for their extra-large pillow cases.

And the costumes — we or our kids must not wear anything that smacks of cultural appropriation, which limits the choice largely to inanimate objects. We must, of course, find something incredibly cute for our cat to wear so we can post Mr. Snuggles’ photo on Facebook.

Fireworks used to be fun. In the old days, we’d run around tossing fire crackers everywhere; now there are all kinds of regulations and even bans.

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And safety. Hallowe’en falls at that time of year when it gets dark at exactly the time you have to pack the little gremlins into the SUV and go in search of the most densely populated streets.

Speaking of safety, carving the obligatory pumpkin requires a steady and patient hand, and a good power tool.

Then, there’s the commercialism; it’s one of the most lucrative days of the year — behind only Christmas and, maybe, that other national holiday, Black Friday.

No wonder there are petitions to get rid of Hallowe’en, always circulated by parents, never by kids.

There’s a new petition to move Hallowe’en to the last Saturday in October. The purpose is to make it more convenient for working parents who feel the need to rest up the day after Hallowe’en.

It won’t succeed, because parents aren’t in charge, the kids are. And the kids have their own petition on the go — to leave Hallowe’en where it is but make the next day a holiday from school, no doubt to recover from their sugar binge.

I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.

Mel Rothenburger is a former mayor of Kamloops and newspaper editor. He writes five commentaries a week for CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a director on the Thompson-Nicola Regional District board. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.

Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group.