History of Trick-or-Treating

Kids look forward to getting dressed up and trick-or-treating all year long. Whether it's the thrill of wearing a costume or getting all the candy, it's one of the most celebrated holiday traditions in America. But how did it all begin? Here's a look at the history of trick-or-treating.

Ancient Gaelic Traditions

According to the Encyclopedia of American Folklore, Halloween's origins stem from the ancient Gaelic festival of Samhain, or the last day of summer. It was believed that all who died in the previous year entered the next world on this day, and that spirits could be sensed more keenly or, some believe, that spirits roamed the earth on this day. It was believed that pagan gods responded to the spirits by making mischief or playing tricks. So people often left food, or treats, outside their homes to appease the gods and spirits.

Rhyming

Trick-or-treating probably originated from the Irish Samhain practice of "rhyming," in which children visit neighboring houses to sing or tell rhymes in return for small rewards, such as nuts or coins.

All Hallow's Eve

In the 8th century, Catholic officials decided to blend the pagan holiday with Christian practice, and started the festival known as All Saints Day, or All Hallow's Day, on Nov. 1. Oct. 31 became known as All Hallow's Eve, which eventually became Halloween. In Britain and Ireland, it was the custom for the poor to go begging door-to-door on All Hallow's Eve, according to holidays.net. Housewives gave the beggars "soulcakes," and the beggars promised to pray for the souls of the dead in exchange for the cakes.

Halloween Tricks

In the 1840s, the potato famine in Ireland brought scores of immigrants to the United States, along with their traditions. In the late 19th century, the night of mischief escalated, and young people were known to perpetrate small acts of vandalism on Halloween. Thus, adults began offering treats to reduce the children's pranks.

Modern Traditions

In the 1930s, this practice became known as "trick-or-treating," and eventually, the tricks died down substantially, and the holiday became more centered on younger children, costumes, candy, and fun instead of mischief. In the 1970s, trick-or-treating declined slightly after rumors of poisoned candy. This led to a rise in Halloween costume parties and neighborhood gatherings, but trick-or-treating remains very popular throughout the U.S.

References

• Watts, Linda S., Encyclopedia of American Folklore, 2007
• Halloween on the Net
• Haunted History of Halloween