Heroic Americans petition to make Halloween a federal holiday

(Image credit: Yandy.com)

last updated 8 January 2015

Halloween may be a holiday meant for children, but it's beloved by the young (and slutty) at heart the country over.

Now, more than 2,000 Americans are pushing for that sugar-high infused night to become a federal holiday — and it's probably not even a thinly veiled marking ploy on behalf of the candy companies. The author of the petition argues the 31st of October should be honored because it emphasizes America's melting pot heritage of hospitality.

"It is a special time when Americans open their homes and hearts and give freely to each other regardless of color, creed, gender association, sexual orientation or religious affiliation."

It's a hard sell, even for this sentimental reporter. But, if you feel strongly, you can add to the dim chorus. The petition still needs 97,941 signatures by October 27 to get a response from the White House.

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Otherwise, it will join the federal holiday petition graveyard already littered with the likes of Jerry Garcia Day, the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team vs. Germany World Cup Day, the Edward Snowden, National Whistleblower - Patriots Against Government Corruption Day, and the National Haunted House Day — a petition that is technically still open until November 6, but doesn't have a pretty blonde's chance in slasher films of making it to the end. --Lauren Hansen

(Photo courtesy Yandy.com)

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Lauren Hansen produces The Weekâ€™s podcasts and videos and edits the photo blog, Captured. She also manages the production of the magazine's iPad app. A graduate of Kenyon College and Northwestern University, she previously worked at the BBC and Frontline. She knows a thing or two about pretty pictures and cute puppies, both of which she tweets about @mylaurenhansen.