Trick-or-treating is one of the most cherished Halloween traditions, where kids don their favorite costumes and eagerly go door-to-door asking, "Trick or treat?" Their playful inquiry often leads to delightful rewards like sugary candies or even a bit of pocket change. The “trick” part, of course, serves as a cheeky, lighthearted threat to prank the homeowners if they don’t receive a treat—though it’s rarely taken seriously!
As Halloween approaches, homeowners in neighborhoods filled with children typically prepare for the festive night by stocking up on treats to welcome the enthusiastic influx of little trick-or-treaters. According to a 2023 survey by the National Confectioners Association, approximately 80% of American adults planned to hand out sweets to these eager youngsters, while an impressive 93% of children were excited to hit the streets in search of goodies.
The origins of dressing up in costumes and soliciting for treats during holidays stretch back to the Middle Ages. Interestingly, this practice is reminiscent of Christmas wassailing traditions. Trick-or-treating shares similarities with the medieval custom of "souling." This involved the less fortunate visiting homes on Hallowmas (November 1st) in exchange for food while offering prayers for the deceased on All Souls Day (November 2nd). Rooted in Ireland and Britain, traditions honoring the spirits of the departed can also be traced as far south as Italy. Even Shakespeare touched upon this age-old custom in his comedy, The Two Gentlemen of Verona (1593), where one character humorously accuses another of “puling, like a beggar at Hallowmas.”
Interestingly, there’s no historical evidence that souling made its way to North America; instead, trick-or-treating likely developed independently here. Before the year 1900, documentation of Halloween masks or costumes in Ireland, the UK, or America is sparse. The earliest known mention of children engaging in ritual begging for Halloween treats in North America dates back to 1911. A newspaper in Kingston, Ontario (near the border with upstate New York), noted that it was common for children to partake in “street guising” on Halloween around 6 to 7 p.m., visiting local shops and neighbors and performing rhymes or songs to earn nuts and candies.
More references to similar practices began to pop up; one in 1915, though the exact location remains unidentified, and another came from Chicago in 1920. However, despite the popularity of Halloween postcards between the early 1900s and the 1920s—often showcasing children—the depiction of trick-or-treating wasn’t evident. In her 1919 book, The Book of Hallowe'en, Ruth Edna Kelley doesn’t mention trick-or-treating at all in her chapter about Halloween in America.
It wasn’t until the 1930s that this charming custom really began to catch on widely across the United States. The phrase “trick or treat” itself didn't make its first appearance in print until 1927, and it wasn’t until 1939 that it appeared in a national publication. Despite the substantial waves of Scots-Irish, Irish, and British immigrants arriving in America during the 18th and 19th centuries, the tradition of asking for treats on Halloween remained largely absent until much later, adding a fascinating layer to the rich tapestry of Halloween history we celebrate today!
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