Trick-or-treating

On Halloween, people wear fun costumes.

They walk from house to house. They say, "trick or treat!"

People give them sweet candy or treats. Some people give money instead. In Mexico, children ask for a little skull. These are made of sugar or chocolate.

Long ago, people called this guising.

Children wore masks or disguises. They would sing a song or tell a joke. This helped them get food or fruit.

In some places, people ate soul cakes. These were small cakes. People shared them with others.

It is a fun way to celebrate.

Do you like to wear a costume?

On October 31, people celebrate Halloween. Many people wear fun costumes.

They walk from house to house. They say, "trick or treat!"

People give them treats like candy. Some people give money instead. In Mexico, children ask for a calaverita. This is a little skull made of sugar or chocolate.

This custom has a long history. Long ago, people in Scotland and Ireland practiced guising.

This means wearing a disguise. Children would sing or tell a joke to earn food. They might ask for apples or nuts. In Ireland, they used to say, "Help the Halloween party!"

Another old way was called souling. People visited homes to get soul cakes. These were small cakes. People shared them to honor the dead. Some people believe these old ways came from Celtic festivals. These festivals marked the start of winter. In those times, people gave food to spirits. This was a way to keep things peaceful.

Trick-or-treating is a famous Halloween custom. It happens on the evening of October 31. People wear costumes and travel from house to house. They ask for treats using the phrase "trick or treat."

Most treats are sweets or candy. In some places, people give money instead. The "trick" part is a playful threat. It means people might cause mischief if they get no treat. Some neighbors show they have candy by leaving porch lights on. Others put up Halloween decorations to signal they are ready. Some people even leave treats on their porches for kids to take.

This tradition has many different ways it works. In Scotland and Ireland, the custom is called guising. This name comes from the disguises or costumes children wear.

In these countries, children often have to perform a trick. They might sing a song or tell a funny joke. They must do this to earn their food or coins. In Mexico, the practice is called calaverita. This is the Spanish word for a little skull. Children there ask, "¿Me da mi calaverita?" They ask for a small skull made of sugar or chocolate.

History shows that these ideas started a long time ago. In the 16th century, people in Scotland and Ireland practiced guising. They wore costumes and went to homes to get rewards.

Another old custom was called souling. This started around the 15th century among Christians. People visited houses to receive soul-cakes. These were small cakes baked for the deceased. People would sing verses to ask for mercy on Christian souls. This practice was found in Britain, Germany, and Austria. Some people think these old ways led to modern trick-or-treating.

There are many interesting facts about how this spread. The earliest record of guising in North America was in 1898. This happened in the province of British Columbia, Canada. The specific phrase "trick or treat" was first recorded in Ontario, Canada, in 1917.

In Ireland, children used to say "help the Halloween party" at doors. In the 1960s, children in Derry, Northern Ireland, asked for nuts or apples. In 1895, people in Scotland used lanterns made from turnips. Even in ancient times, children in Rhodes dressed as swallows. They sang songs to ask for food from homeowners.

Many traditions link together to make today's Halloween. Some believe the custom comes from the Celtic festival of Samhain. This festival marked the start of winter in Ireland and Scotland. People believed spirits or fairies visited the earth at this time. Giving food and drink was a way to keep them happy.

Others believe it comes from mumming. This was a tradition of performing short plays in costume. Whether from ancient festivals or medieval customs, people still love to dress up. It is a way to share joy and celebrate together.

Trick-or-treating is a traditional Halloween custom practiced by children and adults. It occurs on the evening of October 31. Participants wear costumes and travel from house to house. They ask for treats using the specific phrase "trick or treat."

The "treat" is usually confectionery, such as candy or sweets. In some cultures, people provide money instead. The "trick" refers to an idle threat of mischief. This means the visitor might cause trouble if no treat is given. To participate, neighbors often signal they are ready to give treats. They may leave porch lights on or display Halloween decorations. Some people even leave treats on their porches for children to take freely.

The mechanism of the custom relies on a social exchange between visitors and residents. In many traditions, the visitor must perform a task to earn their reward. In Scotland and Ireland, this is known as guising. The name comes from the disguises or costumes worn by the participants.

During guising, children are often expected to perform a party trick. This might involve singing a song, reciting a joke, or telling a poem. This performance is what earns them food, coins, or fruit. In Mexico, the practice is called calaverita, a diminutive for the Spanish word calavera, meaning "skull."

Children in northwestern and central Mexico ask, "¿Me da mi calaverita?" This translates to "Can you give me my little skull?" They receive small skulls made of sugar or chocolate.

Many distinct historical stages and types of customs contributed to modern trick-or-treating. One early tradition is souling, which began around the 15th century among Christians. During Allhallowtide, people visited houses to receive soul-cakes. These were small cakes baked for the deceased or to pray for their souls. People would sing verses, such as asking for "mercy on all Christian souls," to receive these cakes. This practice was recorded in Britain, Flanders, southern Germany, and Austria. Another tradition is mumming, which has existed in parts of Britain and Ireland since the Middle Ages. Mumming involved wearing costumes and performing short plays or scenes in exchange for food or drink.

The history of these customs reaches back to ancient times and different cultures. In ancient Rhodes, children reportedly dressed as swallows and sang songs for food. They even threatened mischief if homeowners refused them. The Celtic festival of Samhain is also a significant historical root. Held from October 31 to November 1, Samhain marked the beginning of winter in Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man. It was also known as Calan Gaeaf in Wales, Cornwall, and Brittany. During this time, people believed spirits or the Aos Sí visited the earth. Giving offerings of food and drink was a way to appease these spirits.

Specific dates and locations show how the custom spread across the globe. The earliest known occurrence of guising in North America was in 1898 in British Columbia, Canada. The phrase "trick or treat!" was first recorded in Ontario, Canada, in 1917.

In Scotland, guising has been recorded since the 16th century. In 1623, records from Elgin mention men and women dancing at New Year. In 1895, Scottish masqueraders used lanterns made from scooped-out turnips. In Ireland, children previously used the phrase "help the Halloween party" instead of "trick or treat." By the 2000s, the North American phrase became common in Scotland and Ireland.

Significant numbers and details help us understand the scale of these traditions. In the 1950s, a child in North Ayrshire, Scotland, was recorded receiving 12 shillings and sixpence for performing. In the 1920s, boys in South Lanarkshire traveled to affluent areas like Thorntonhall to go guising. In 1920, the town of Lynn, Massachusetts, had a large immigrant population, including 4,500 Irish and 1,900 English residents.

These populations likely helped spread the customs to North America. In the United States, some churches still offer sweets during Allhallowtide. They allow people to pray for the souls of friends, relatives, or even pets while receiving treats.

Trick-or-treating connects to many broader cultural and religious systems. It links ancient pagan beliefs, like those of the Celts, with medieval Christian practices like souling. It also connects to the secular tradition of performance through mumming and guising.

Whether it is through the sugar skulls of Mexico or the soul-cakes of Europe, the custom remains a way for people to share food and stories. It is a widespread practice in Anglospheric countries, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States, Canada, and even parts of Mexico.