Buzz
On October 31, throngs of children with Jack-o'-lantern-shaped buckets and pillowcases will swarm the streets in search of sugary treats. Trick-or-treating has become synonymous with Halloween, but the tradition underwent a long evolution before it became what it is today. So how did this holiday turn into a free candy bonanza for kids? The answer lies in the influences of pagans, Catholics, and candy corporations.
Historians concur that the Celtic autumn festival known as Samhain was the forerunner of modern Halloween. Samhain marked the celebration of the final harvest of the year and the onset of winter. It was also a time to honor the dead. One possible way the Celts may have appeased the spirits they believed roamed the Earth was by leaving offerings on their doorsteps.
When Catholicism spread to Ireland in the 1st century CE, many pagan holidays were repurposed to fit the new religious framework. November 1 became known as the 'Feasts of All Saints and All Souls,' and the evening before was renamed 'All-Hallows'-Eve.' While these new holidays were quite different from the original Celtic celebration, several customs endured, including the act of honoring the deceased with food. Christians adopted the practice of offering "soul cakes," small pastries typically baked with rich ingredients like currants and saffron.
Instead of leaving soul cakes out for wandering spirits, they were handed out to beggars who went door-to-door, promising to pray for the souls of the departed in exchange for food. Some of them wore costumes to honor the saints—a practice rooted in the pagan tradition of disguising oneself to avoid being tormented by malevolent spirits. This tradition, known as souling, is thought to have inspired modern-day trick-or-treating.
Souling didn't survive the journey from Europe to the United States. In America, early Halloween festivities were centered around celebrating the end of the harvest season, with seasonal treats like caramel apples and mixed nuts as the main offerings. There were no soul cakes—or any candy, for that matter—around.
Trick-or-treating didn't become a widespread tradition in the U.S. until the 1950s. After the Great Depression and World War II, the suburbs were flourishing, and people were eager to find ways to have fun and meet their neighbors. The old souling tradition was revived, now reimagined as a way for children to dress up in costumes and wander through neighborhoods. Common offerings for trick-or-treaters included nuts, coins, and homemade treats (the kind of "treats" most children would turn up their noses at today).
Things shifted dramatically when candy companies entered the scene. Having already convinced consumers that candy was essential for Christmas and Easter, these companies sought to replicate their success in the fall. Trick-or-treating was the perfect opportunity. Candy manufacturers began producing smaller, bite-sized versions of their products, marketing them as the perfect Halloween treats. Adults appreciated the convenience, kids adored the sweets, and the candy companies raked in billions.
Today, it's nearly impossible to picture Halloween without Skittles, chocolate bars, and the never-ending candy corn debates. But as you dig into your stash of Halloween candy this October, remember: you could have been munching on soul cakes instead.
