Somehow it has become culturally acceptable to spend one day of the year dressed up as someone you’re not and knock on the doors of strangers asking for candy. Halloween has been westernized into the seventh biggest consumer holiday for spending, according to CNBC, but how did it start, and is it safe?
Though the Gaelic and the Welsh had an influence on the spooky holiday, today’s traditions are mainly influenced by Christian history. Halloween, or All Hallow’s Eve, is the first day of Hallowmas, a three-day religious holiday. Hallowmas includes All Hallow’s Eve, All Hallow’s Day on Nov. 1 and All Souls’ Day on Nov. 2. It serves as a time to pray for the recently departed souls who have yet to reach heaven and was introduced in the year 609, according to Britannica Encyclopedia.
The tradition of adorning costumes during Hallowmas stemmed from an old tradition when people would wear costumes to avoid being recognized by the departing souls. It was thought that souls wandered the earth seeking vengeance before moving on to the next world, so people would conceal their identities with costumes and masks, according to Britannica.
The origins of trick-or-treating stretch back to the 15th century when children and the poor would honor and pray for the souls in limbo by walking door to door requesting soul cakes. Soul cakes were often filled with sweet spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and allspice and made with raisins or currants. The first acts of trick-or-treating, often referred to as guising, were not reported in North America until 1911, according to an Ontario newspaper.
You would think children would be the last to protest free candy, but in 1948 the Madison Square Boys’ Club in New York City marched in a parade carrying a banner that said “American Boys Don’t Beg,” according to Britannica.
Around the world and even around the United States, there are variances in trick-or-treating procedures. Several cities in the U.S. ban children older than the age of 12 from participating, according to CBS.
In St. Louis, Mo., children are expected to perform a Halloween-themed riddle, joke or pun to earn their “treat.” In Des Moines, Iowa, trick-or-treating is performed the night before Halloween and referred to as “Beggars’ Night.” In parts of Canada, kids say “Halloween Apples” instead of “trick-or-treat” because of the popularity of candy apples.
Nowadays, Halloween has a tendency to bring out the overprotective side of people. For many parents, the idea of allowing their children to ask strangers for candy is downright terrifying. But is this a legitimate concern?
It turns out that sex crime rates on Halloween are no higher than on any other days, according to a University of Oklahoma study. The study looked at national crime rates from 1997 to 2005 and found no distinction. Police in communities across the U.S. perform random visits to sex offenders on Halloween night to make sure the criminals are not opening their doors. Sex offenders in Georgia are banned from opening their doors to anybody but law enforcement on Halloween, and police advise sex offenders in Los Angeles to post signs saying they’re not giving out candy.
Another precaution parents often take is checking their children’s candy before allowing them to eat it. Studies show that the fear of poisoned candy is unnecessary. A recent study reported that from 2000 to 2011 there were only six potentially harmful incidents none of which yielded injuries.
Despite these widespread concerns, Halloween has held up as a strange but exciting holiday.
