This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2010, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Halloween falls on Sunday this year, but that doesn't mean everybody will be out trick-or-treating on that night. Many Utahns say they're planning to take the kids door-to-door Saturday.
"We like to go on the day [of Halloween], but it conflicts with other things this year," said Jamie Sharp, who plans to take his 3- and 4-year-olds around his Riverton neighborhood Saturday.
"I think most of our neighbors are going on Saturday, too," said Sharp. "We're LDS, and that's part of the reason."
Parents of older kids cite the fact there's school on Monday morning; others look for safety in numbers.
Most Utahns seem to be taking the Saturday-Sunday thing in stride. "We're flexible," said Coreen Gililland of Salt Lake City, who plans to take her 2- and 4-year-old kids out on Saturday. "It's what people in my neighborhood have decided. Whatever everybody wants to do is fine with me."
Besides, mostly what her kids care about is getting piles of candy. "They won't know what day of the week it is," Gililland said with a laugh.
However, some Utahns sound angry about the Saturday/Sunday divide, with comment sharers on The Tribune's website complaining Saturday is the choice of Utah's Mormon majority.
One posting asserted: "This is really not the way it is done in most parts of the country."
(For the record, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hasn't taken a position on trick-or-treating.)
But this isn't a Utah-only debate. According to chatter on the Web and through social media outlets, such as Facebook and Twitter, you'd be hard-pressed to find a state where that discussion isn't going on this year.
Many local municipalities set trick-or-treating hours — some Sunday, some Saturday, some as early as Thursday or Friday.
And, apparently, a lot of people are asking when to take the kids door-to-door. "The City of Mobile has nothing to do with Halloween or when to go trick-or-treating," a Mobile, Ala., city employee tweeted. "We can, however, suggest against dressing up as Snooki."
That good advice aside, trick-or-treating apparently has created something of a dust-up in New Orleans, where the problem isn't religion, school nights or safety. The Saints are scheduled to kick off against the Steelers on Sunday at 7:20 p.m. Central Time, and there's a movement afoot in the Big Easy to shift trick-or-treating to avoid conflict with the NFL game.
"This would allow everyone to focus on our kids on Saturday night and our Saints on Sunday night," wrote a group of moms in an online letter circulating through e-mail, Facebook and Twitter. "We take pride in doing things different in New Orleans, and changing Halloween weekend would remove an agonizing choice from our citizens."
Trick-or-treating safety tips
Use a flashlight.
Accept treats at the door of a stranger, don't go inside.
Wear light-colored clothing to be seen in the dark; use reflective tape on bikes, skateboards and brooms.
Stay on the sidewalk.
Look both ways before crossing the street; cross at the corner.
Have a grown-up inspect your candy before you start eating your treats.
For more Halloween safety tips for motorists, parents and homeowners, visit http://www.redcross.org.