Costumes, candy, and neighborhood fun have a history that stretches back more than 2,000 years!
Every October, kids across Northern Virginia put on costumes, grab a pumpkin bucket, and head out to knock on doors. But where did trick-or-treating come from?
The answer spans a few centuries and a few cultures. Here’s a quick trek back in history:
A Harvest Festival
Long before candy corn, the Celtic people of Ireland, Scotland, and Britain celebrated the end of the harvest with a festival called Samhain (pronounced “SOW-in”). Families gathered around bonfires, and some wore disguises, an early root of Halloween costumes.
All Hallows’ Eve
Centuries later, November 1 became All Saints’ Day, also called All Hallows’ Day, a time to honor saints and loved ones who had passed away. The night before was All Hallows’ Eve, which eventually became “Halloween.”
In medieval Britain and Ireland, people went door to door “souling,” offering prayers or songs for a household’s departed relatives in exchange for small “soul cakes.” In Scotland and Ireland, children later went “guising,” dressing in costume and trading a song, poem, or joke for fruit, nuts, or coins.
Coming to America
Irish and Scottish immigrants brought these customs to the U.S. in the 1800s. By the 1920s and 1930s, Halloween night also brought plenty of pranks, so many towns encouraged friendly neighborhood visits instead, and the phrase “trick or treat” caught on. After World War II, trick-or-treating took off in growing suburban neighborhoods.
Today’s Tradition
Today, trick-or-treating is all about community and fun: creative costumes, meeting neighbors, and making family memories. Whether your family trick-or-treats around the block, attends a trunk-or-treat, or heads to a fall festival, you’re part of a tradition that goes back centuries.
