by Bella Cooper

Created on: April 11, 2009   Last Updated: December 15, 2010

For most children, trick-or-treating for candy is the highlight of Halloween. Why do people hand out candy on this holiday? How did the trick-or-treating tradition begin?

Medieval souling

In medieval times, on November 1st, the day before All Soul's Day, poor individuals would go door-to-door to beg for food. In exchange for prayers for the family's dead relatives, they would be given "soul cakes" (essentially bread with currants). This day was referred to as Hallowmas and the begging practices were used as early as the 14th century. Because of the similarity to trick-or-treating, people believe that this tradition may have been brought over by the many European immigrants that came to America in the 19th century.

Halloween candy begging

The first known instance of candy begging on Halloween was in 1911 when there was a publication in Ontario, Canada describing the practice of children dressing up in costume and asking for candy or nuts house-to-house in exchange for singing. This was also seen in Chicago. While it wasn't yet called "trick-or-treating", the ritual had at this point begun.

Trick-or-treating

The phrase "trick-or-treat" was first used in print in 1927 in Alberta, Canada. By the 1930's the phrase became widespread and was national recognized in 1939. The history of the saying is that "treats" were often given by pioneer wives to children to avoid being the target for "tricks". The practice of trick-or-treating more rapidly spread in the 1940's, although World War II put a damper on things due to the sugar rationing from 1942 until 1947. As reported by the National Confectioners Association currently about 80 percent of adults in the United States buy candy in anticipation of children trick-or-treaters on October 31st, and 94 percent of children participate in the trick-or-treating ritual.

Variations or trick-or-treating around the world

In celebration of Guy Fawkes Gunpowder Plot in 1605, children in England go door-to-door to collect pennies to spend on fireworks, using the phrase "a penny for the guy". In Scotland and Ireland, guising is often practiced on Halloween where children receive candy in exchange for a poem, joke or song. Recently, the entertainment has been less of a requirement making this ritual almost identical to trick-or-treating and often the phrase "trick or treat" is even used as well. In Sweden children wear costumes to trick-or-treat on the Thursday before Easter, while Danish children do so on Shrove Monday, and Norway children between Christmas and New Years.

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