Trick or Treat

"Trick or treat!
Smell my feet!
Give me something good to eat!
If you don't, I don't care.
I'll pull down your underwear!"



Kids have been asking for treats using this and other silly phrases for nearly 100 years. However, the concept of trick or treating was started thousands of years ago.

It's hard to know which period of history inspired trick or treating, but many think it comes from Medieval times. During those times, people celebrated All Souls Day. The holiday was held on November 2. On All Souls Day, poor people would go to the homes of wealthier people where they would receive soul cakes in exchange for agreeing to pray for the souls of dead relatives. This was called souling. In Ireland and Scotland, All Souls Day was a little different. In these countries, children would dress up and recite songs or poems in exchange for coins, fruits, or nuts. This was called guising.

Many think that immigrants from Europe brought revived the traditions of souling and guising when they came to the United States, but the actual tradition of organized trick or treating did not start until the 1930s. After World War II, trick or treating started to become a really big deal. Candy companies started to make candy just for Halloween. Other companies started selling costumes, encouraging kids to buy a costume rather than make their own. Today, Americans spend billions dollars on costumes and candy every year, but it's worth it for a little free candy and a whole lot of fun.