Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a beloved children's story and animated special that teaches viewers that even the meanest people deserve a chance on Christmas. Although the story has been tied to the Christmas season, it's important to note that Whoville doesn't celebrate Christmas all year. As a result, the Grinch also has his own holiday that he celebrates. Of course, the only holiday that works best for the character is Halloween, which creates the most bizarre prequel special: Halloween is Grinch Night.
As teased in the story, the Whos down in Whoville enjoy other holidays, but Christmas is the one they love the most. That being said, the Grinch's favorite season is never explored. Halloween is Grinch Night shows how a Sour-Sweet Wind causes a chain reaction that causes the Gree-Grumps and Hakken-Krakks to make a commotion in the area. Upon hearing them, the Grinch knows it's time for him to terrorize the Whos, who are hiding in their home. However, this year, a brave Who named Eucheriah confronts the Grinch, stalling his Grinch Night by taking the brunt of his "horrors." At its core, the special teaches a lesson in bravery and standing up to others, but the method in which it does so is one of the strangest.
For starters, the setting shows Whoville bathed in browns, oranges and yellows to mark their fall season. Rather than the holly jolly cheer that permeates the town during Christmas, this time for the Whos has their fun tempted with the long wait for the Sour-Sweet Wind. Once it arrives, the community immediately falls into place, locking themselves up in their homes to prepare for the Grinch's night of debauchery. When he meets Eucheriah, audiences are also shown the bizarre terrors in his paraphernalia box, which includes ghouls, monsters and other assorted oddities. Because of his actions, it changes how audiences view the Grinch and Whoville as a whole.
The prequel showcases a version of the Grinch who cares only to create chaos and recontextualizes the Christmas special by showing how he torments his neighbors. However, thanks to Euchariah, viewers see that the Grinch is more of a menace than a grouch and lives to be a bully to the Whos. As a result, it forces audiences to see him as less sympathetic, considering he doesn't appear to be an outcast from the festivities anymore. In fact, it makes sense why he isn't welcome for Christmas, but what does this imply for other holidays, and why was similar behavior not expected on Christmas night?
Like humans, the Whos enjoy their own holidays aside from Christmas. While they aren't described, the TV special alludes to the idea that they have other ways to spread togetherness. That being said, it's never explained whether or not the Grinch does his best to terrorize others around those times either. Although the Sour-Sweet Wind comes during the Fall, it's possible this same wind comes throughout the year, or perhaps another with the same effect. Nevertheless, it could be possible that Grinch Night happens more than once a yea, but if this were true, what happens during winter when it's the Christmas season?
Although he terrorizes the Whos on Grinch Night, they are utterly surprised that he appeared on Christmas night. Perhaps the reason for their surprise is because his utter disdain for the holiday was the only reason he never intruded. So naturally, the Whos learned to appreciate Christmas more because they knew the Grinch wouldn't dare go near them.
The explanation could also explain why they never think to mention him or his activities on Christmas because it's a celebration of joy and not being afraid of the Grinch, who lives on Mount Crumpet. Although Halloween is Grinch Night is a strange prequel that changes the Grinch's characterization, it does show how bullies can affect a person or people, but thanks to characters like Euchariah, the special also indicates the importance of standing up to them, no matter how strange they may be.