Why do we say "Trick-or-Treat?"
On the night of October 31st, according to Druid belief, the dead returned to the earth each year. Many were mischievous while others were evil; nonetheless, they loved to wreak havoc on people. Druidic priests wore white robes and masks in order to disguise themselves. This was done to trick the ghosts into thinking that the priests were one of them and not human. Everyone else would dress as the other sex to disguise themselves from their ancestors. This was done to prevent dead from taking the living into the Other World at the end of the night.
During the witch hysteria in Europe and America, many people were executed for practicing witchcraft or, more likely, any religion not Christian. Those who still practiced their old religion began wearing dark colored robes and masks and gathered in the forest and fields on Halloween to celebrate Samhain. They worked powerful magical spells and performed divinations. They wore disguises, this time, to hide from those who would potentially turn them in. This "guising" lasted for centuries and many say that this originated in Scotland. They dressed to look like ghosts, fairies, and other-worldly creatures. They walked house to house, singing and dancing to intimidate the evil spirits.
Jack-o-lanterns were used in Ireland to light the way for those walking door to door. These people demanded praise for the pagan god Muck Olla. Also, giving donations to the beggers on Hallween night ensured prosperity and/or guaranteed protection from evil. Later, in the 18th and 19th centuries, disguised children went door to door begging for apples, nuts, or soul cakes while singing Halloween folk songs. If they weren't given a treat, they would play a prank, or "trick." Some old tricks performed in England were stuffing chimneys with dirt, blowing smoke through keyholes, and breaking glass bottles against people's homes.
The immigrants from Ireland and England brought these Halloween traditions to the US. As years passed, Halloween turned into what we know it as today.
During the witch hysteria in Europe and America, many people were executed for practicing witchcraft or, more likely, any religion not Christian. Those who still practiced their old religion began wearing dark colored robes and masks and gathered in the forest and fields on Halloween to celebrate Samhain. They worked powerful magical spells and performed divinations. They wore disguises, this time, to hide from those who would potentially turn them in. This "guising" lasted for centuries and many say that this originated in Scotland. They dressed to look like ghosts, fairies, and other-worldly creatures. They walked house to house, singing and dancing to intimidate the evil spirits.
Jack-o-lanterns were used in Ireland to light the way for those walking door to door. These people demanded praise for the pagan god Muck Olla. Also, giving donations to the beggers on Hallween night ensured prosperity and/or guaranteed protection from evil. Later, in the 18th and 19th centuries, disguised children went door to door begging for apples, nuts, or soul cakes while singing Halloween folk songs. If they weren't given a treat, they would play a prank, or "trick." Some old tricks performed in England were stuffing chimneys with dirt, blowing smoke through keyholes, and breaking glass bottles against people's homes.
The immigrants from Ireland and England brought these Halloween traditions to the US. As years passed, Halloween turned into what we know it as today.