Trick or Treat
The trick-or-treat tradition probably dates back to the early English All
Souls' Day parade, celebrated on the 2nd of November. During the
festivities, the poor would beg for food and families would give them
pastries called "soul cakes" in return for their promise to pray for the
family's dead relatives.
The practice, which was referred to as "going a-souling", was eventually
taken up by children who would visit the houses in their neighbourhood and
be given ale, food, and money.
Dressing in costume for Halloween has both European and Celtic roots. On
Halloween, when it was believed that spirits visited the earthly world,
people were afraid of encountering the spirits. They would wear masks
when they left their homes after dark so that the ghosts would mistake them
for fellow spirits.
