Onondaga Central
Have you ever wondered why once a year it becomes acceptable to go to a stranger's house and take candy from them? The history behind trick or treating is not a hundred percent clear, but many believe it was first celebrated Celtic traditions and early Roman Catholic holidays. In Ireland around 2,000 years ago, people celebrated a festival called Samhain on the night of October 31st. During this night, people believed that the dead returned to Earth. They would light bonfires and even offer sacrifices. Sometimes, people would dress up in costumes to make unwanted ghosts stay away. Later on, more people would dress up in costumes and play tricks in exchange for treats. People would engage in all sorts of activities in exchange for treats, such as: mumming, souling, guising, etc. Immigrants fleeing Ireland brought these Halloween traditions to America. At one point the pranks got out of hand, and during the Great Depression, people even turned to vandalism and violence. Eventually though, the treats became a more prominent aspect of the tradition and trick or treating became accepted as a Halloween tradition in America. Fun fact: Americans spend about $2.6 million on candy for Halloween.
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