# Trick-or-treating on Sunday? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 24, 2010, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trick-or-treating-on-sunday/558165 "2010-10-24T04:45:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2010, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trick-or-treating-on-sunday/558165/41 "2010-10-24T21:46:04Z")
This is such a new concept for me. ToT is on 10/31, anywhere from 5-9 pm depending on the age and who’s lights are still on. ---
**Author:** ![Lightlystarched](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Lightlystarched](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightlystarched)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2010, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trick-or-treating-on-sunday/558165/42 "2010-10-24T22:15:50Z")
I’m in Phoenix. ToT is on Halloween, as soon as it is dark. Most kids start about 6. By 8 all the candy has been distributed and the kids are cranky and it is time to turn off the light. PLENTY of time to sleep before school the next day. My neighborhood is great - most folks will have a fire going in a portable fire pit and drag out lawn chairs and visit. Most of the parents have a well-disguised adult beverage and Halloween marks the unofficial End Of Summer and you finally get to see your neighbors outside again. Phooey on rescheduling Halloween. ---
**Author:** ![Gil-Martin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Gil-Martin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gil-Martin)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2010, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trick-or-treating-on-sunday/558165/43 "2010-10-24T23:04:56Z")
I think the kids and I are going on Saturday. The two communities closest to me generally don’t do Halloween on Sunday, which suits me. I don’t want to be up and out late with kids the night before a school/work day. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2010, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trick-or-treating-on-sunday/558165/44 "2010-10-24T23:07:10Z")
Halloween must have fallen on a Sunday before, and yet, I don’t remember any discussion. If somebody threw a Halloween party on Saturday, that would be fine. I do remember going to Halloween parties that weren’t on the day itself, and in fact, that was better–you got to wear your costume twice, you got two nights of fun instead of just one, etc. I don’t know how towns think they can “schedule” this unless they are very small towns. October 31st=Halloween, and that’s when you do trick or treat. I’ve lived in small towns. Not everybody gets the memo. Even in the smallest community I can think of, there would be somebody who wouldn’t get the memo. I am also very curious at how the solstices and equinoxes get moved around as somebody said upthread. ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2010, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trick-or-treating-on-sunday/558165/45 "2010-10-24T23:29:19Z")
My apartment complex does not allow kids to trick-or-treat in the buildings. They have a special event set up in the picnic area or the kids can go around to different neighborhoods with single-family homes, but they don’t want people tramping up and down the halls banging on residents’ doors all night. So I’ll buy a bag in case any miscreants show up, then I’ll eat it all myself. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2010, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trick-or-treating-on-sunday/558165/46 "2010-10-24T23:43:00Z")
We will trick-or-treat on Halloween like we’re supposed to. Halloween should never be moved to suit the superstitions of idiots. I will give out candy on sunday. I will give out nothing on saturday. Saturday is not Halloween. It’s ridiculous that this is even an issue. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2010, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trick-or-treating-on-sunday/558165/47 "2010-10-24T23:47:12Z")
> [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](#): > > I am also very curious at how the solstices and equinoxes get moved around as somebody said upthread. LOL. I meant our religious celebrations thereof don’t always happen on the actual day. But our Samhain is always on Samhain. ---
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trick-or-treating-on-sunday/558165/48 "2010-10-25T06:21:02Z")
I’m not taking the kids trick or treating. They can go on their own without a chaperon! I’ll stay behind and hand out the candy, on the 31st of course! ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trick-or-treating-on-sunday/558165/49 "2010-10-25T14:28:26Z")
I think many religious people have no problem with Halloween or Trick-or-Treat per se, but don’t think it’s an appropriate activity for Sunday, which is devoted to worship. That’s why a lot of towns in the Bible Belt, and in Utah where there are a lot of Mormons, traditionally switch Halloween observance to Saturday when it falls on Sunday. It’s usually not a problem, as the kids have fun either way, and I don’t recall ever having anyone come to my door on a Sunday Halloween. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trick-or-treating-on-sunday/558165/50 "2010-10-25T14:32:07Z")
Growing up, our township always mandated TorT to be a specific day, almost never 10/31, and always on a school night which I thought was pretty rotten. As an adult, I now understand the school night thing (I think they were worried about teenagers without weeknight curfews, getting into mischief). But I do think 10/31 is a lot easier to remember, doggonit. Fortunately, our current area of residence just does it on that day, so no need to try to figure out what day. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trick-or-treating-on-sunday/558165/51 "2010-10-25T14:43:49Z")
> [@FatBaldGuy](#): > > I think many religious people have no problem with Halloween or Trick-or-Treat per se, but don’t think it’s an appropriate activity for Sunday, which is devoted to worship. How is it any of their business? ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trick-or-treating-on-sunday/558165/52 "2010-10-25T15:27:02Z")
It’s a little funny, but because Nov. 1 is a Monday, we’re celebrating All Saints Day at my church on Sunday 10/31 instead. That is no way will conflict with our planned trick-or-treating on Sunday night, however. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trick-or-treating-on-sunday/558165/53 "2010-10-25T16:28:51Z")
> [@teletype](#): > > Wait… they didn’t want people trick or treating and being all spooky-like on a Sunday because it’s a sacred day. So they moved it to All Saints’ Day instead? Heh. You only say this because you’re just a pagan Catholic. 😛 (BTW, apparently All Saints Day is no longer a Holy Day of Obligation. When did that change?) ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trick-or-treating-on-sunday/558165/54 "2010-10-25T16:34:26Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > How significant is All Saint’s Day to the various Protestant denominations? Don’t know about All Saints Day, but October 31st of of paramount importance to the heathen Protestants. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Rhodes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhodes/32/273_2.png) [@Rhodes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhodes)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trick-or-treating-on-sunday/558165/55 "2010-10-25T16:37:44Z")
[Here](http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home/50482830-76/halloween-saturday-sunday-trick.html.csp)’s a newspaper article about the phenomenon in Utah vs elsewhere. I remember recent Sunday Halloweens in Utah being observed on Saturday, but I don’t remember what I did when I was a kid in an LDS family outside of Utah. My kids’ Methodist preschool in Texas will be hosting a “Trunk or Treat” on Saturday 10/30. I doubt I’ll see many candy-beggars at my door on Saturday, but I will certainly give them the same amount of respect as I would if they come on Sunday. In my experience, Halloween is not a religious holiday. And I have been surprised to see how lax Christians in general are about respecting Sunday as a holy day; I had been taught that it was a Christian law, but I have come to learn that Mormons take it much more seriously than most Christians. ---
**Author:** ![Walkabout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/46a35a/32.png) [@Walkabout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walkabout)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trick-or-treating-on-sunday/558165/56 "2010-10-25T17:22:28Z")
As you can see [here](http://wboy.com/page.cfm?pageid=756), all of the communities around here that schedule Trick or Treating have scheduled it for Saturday this year. I suppose I’ll be prepared to hand out candy on both days. It doesn’t really bother me that they moved it, since I just hand out the treats, but it occurred to me that it would interfere with party plans that the parents or treat-givers might have. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trick-or-treating-on-sunday/558165/57 "2010-10-25T17:30:11Z")
My village’s ToT is on Thursday, from 5:30-7:00. It’ll be hundreds of kids. I haven’t stocked up yet. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trick-or-treating-on-sunday/558165/58 "2010-10-25T18:54:41Z")
It’s a mixed bag around here, most communities do it on Oct 31 regardless of the year. When towns won’t allow it on Sunday, they do it on Saturday and the kids wind up getting driven to a town that allows it on Sunday, so they get twice as much candy in those years. ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trick-or-treating-on-sunday/558165/59 "2010-10-25T19:42:12Z")
If tradition holds, we’ll get no kids (our house is not visible from the road, and has a very long, steep driveway. And it’s always raining, sometimes snowing. But if they come, they’ll get candy no matter what day it is (very stale candy, admittedly, if they choose something like “July 7”). I don’t punish children for stupid ideas held by their parents. ---
**Author:** ![maladroit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@maladroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maladroit)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trick-or-treating-on-sunday/558165/60 "2010-10-25T19:44:57Z")
I saw in the newspaper that they were shifting the trick-or-treat day to Saturday here. I don’t have kids in this age group, so I’m not personally doing anything. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trick-or-treating-on-sunday/558165.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trick-or-treating-on-sunday/558165.md?page=4)