For any child with a sweet tooth, Halloween is the best day of the year. You get to dress up as a scary ghost, pretty princess, hilarious clown, or anything else your imagination can conjure and you get candy: lots and lots of candy. But where and when did this great tradition start?
The History of Trick-or-Treating
For an estimated 100 years, trick-or-treating and Halloween have gone hand in hand like Easter Sunday and baskets of colorful eggs or Christmas and a stocking full of goodies. But where did this tradition come from? Unfortunately, the history surrounding this candy-crazed night of mischief is a little hazy, but there are several theories.
Trick-or-Treating and the Celts
Halloween can be traced back to the Celtic festival of Samhain, which was celebrated annually on the night of October 31st. The Celts believed the dead returned to the earth on Samhain. To ward off unwanted spirits, the people would disguise themselves in costumes, as well as prepare banquet tables of food and other goodies for the spirits.
In later centuries, people began performing antics in exchange for food and drink. Thus, trick-or-treating was born.
Trick-or-Treating and Early Christianity
By the ninth century, Christianity had spread across the globe and into traditionally Celtic lands. Over time, Christian beliefs began to blend with older pagan rites. All Soul’s Day, which would come to be celebrated on November 2nd, closely resembled the Celtic Samhain, a night to honor the dead.
As part of the celebration, poor people would visit the houses of wealthier individuals and receive pastries known as soul cakes in exchange for a promise to pray for the souls of the homeowner’s deceased relatives. This tradition was later taken up by children, and eventually involved costumes, but instead of praying for the deceased, children would sing a song, recite a poem, tell a joke, or perform a trick in exchange for some sort of treat.
Halloween Candy from Wockenfuss Candies
No matter its origins, Halloween has become a night of fun, laughter, and, most importantly, candy. And it is just about time to start stocking up on your Halloween candy, which is where Wockenfuss comes in!
We have a whole line of Halloween Candy sure to please even the pickiest trick-or-treater. From traditional Candy Corn to Gummi Pumpkins, Sour Jelly Bats, Jelly Pumpkins, and Milk Chocolate Pumpkin Pops, Wockenfuss is ready to help you make this Halloween one to remember.
Can’t choose between our wide variety of Halloween candy? You don’t have to! Just order our Harvest Mix, a smorgasbord of everything you love about Halloween.
If you have any questions about Wockenfuss Candies’ wide variety of fudge, chocolate treats, and candy products, please contact us by calling 1-800-296-4414 or email info@Wockenfusscandies.com. When you’re not savoring our sweets, stay satisfied by following us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest!
Sources:
History of Trick-or-Treating History.com