(Photo from Warner Bros. film Trick or Treat. Not sure what that is...)
The act of "trick-or-treating" can be traced back centuries. Some sources compare the act to wassailing in the Middle Ages. Perhaps most relevant, though, is the medieval practice of souling. Souling consisted of the poor traveling door to door on Hallowmas (then celebrated November 1st) to receive food in return for prayers for the dead on All Souls Day (November 2nd.) Such practices were mainly found in Ireland and Britain, although similar ones have been found to have occurred as far as Italy.
As I've mentioned in a previous post, the reason behind dressing up in costumes to trick-or-treat most likely goes back to the Celts celebration of Samhain. Citizens would dress in "costumes" and masks created from the remnants of their herds. The purpose might have been to copy evil spirits, or appease them.
The history of trick-or-treating is a bit more hazy when it comes to tracing it to North America. Sources say there is no evidence of souling of the poor. The earliest mention of the tradition doesn't even pop up until 1911. It wasn't until 1927 that the first mention of it was to be found in print somewhere in Canada. The practice didn't seem to really catch on until the 1930s.
What we do know today is that trick-or-treating has become a central part to the tradition. Almost a social requirement. While it briefly declined in the 70s and 80s due to tainted candy scares, the tradition holds strong today.
What are some of YOUR trick-or-treating memories?
Resources:
Other related links:- TheHolidaySpot (no relation!)
- Halloween Alliance
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