Halloween is a major American holiday. The National Retail Federation reports that more than 70% of Americans celebrated Halloween in 2012, spending a combined total of over $2.6 billion. Children, teenagers, and adults all enjoy Halloween in different ways, but work, school, and other obligations can make it difficult to find time for festivities.
By contrast, there are few activities associated with Columbus Day, and some states choose not to recognize this holiday at all. Columbus is a fairly controversial historical figure, and many citizens would prefer not to celebrate a man who ordered the mass slaughter and enslavement of native Americans.
Because of this, we petition the Obama administration to designate October 31st as a federal holiday, replacing Columbus Day