Every year something very particular is celebrated, because the streets are filled with goblins, witches and scarecrows celebrating one of the most popular festivities in the United States, Halloween.
Although Halloween did not begin in the United States, it is a holiday that has become deeply rooted in the customs of the country and there is even a very interesting tradition of dressing up in costumes and going out into the streets to ask for candy, which has been seen in many movies.
Why trick-or-treating on Halloween?
Halloween had become a civil celebration in the 1920s and 1930s. Later, in 1950, it became a holiday primarily aimed at children and young people, more with the practice of “Trick or treat”.
Poorer people went with the rich and asked for gifts such as money, food and other gifts in exchange for praying for the dead after the church named November 2 as “All Souls’ Day.”
Young people in Scotland and Ireland participated in a tradition called dressing up, disguising themselves and accepting offerings from various households. Instead of committing to pray for the dead, they would sing a song, recite a poem, tell a joke or perform some other type of “trick” before collecting their treat, which usually consisted of fruit, nuts or coins.
Instead of giving prayers in exchange for alms, songs or jokes were offered, which gave rise to the “Trick or Treat” that exists today. This is first mentioned in a Scottish document from 1895, but the expression “Trick or treat” was not first used until 1927, and that was in Canada.
The celebration of All Saints’ Day was also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas, meaning All Saints’ Day. The night before, it began to be called All-Hallows Eve and finally, Halloween.
What do you think about it? Do you go trick-or-treating every year during Halloween?