TRICK OR TREAT

[ELAINE]

During Samhain the Celts offered food as a way
To ward off evel spirits . In the Middle Ages on the
Eve of All Saints Day the poor would go souiling ,
visiting houses offering prayer for families dead in
exchange for food , called “ soul cakes “ As Irish and
Scottish emmigrants brought Halloween tradition so
America in the 19th cantury the holiday began to be
accociated with mischievous and extortion deal , Give
us treats or we will play a prank on you . As the vandalism
became ore serious , in the 1930s communities started
encouraging trick or treating as we know it today in order
to keep youngsters out of trouble ,,,

DRESSING IN COSTUMES

TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM POTENTIALLY EVIL
SPIRITS THAT MAY APPEAR DURING SAMHAIN THE CELTS
WORE ANIMAL SKIN COSTUMES TO HIDE IN PLAN SIGHT ,
IF THEY LOOKED LIKE A FELLOW SPIRIT , THEY BELIEVED
IT WOULD BE SAFE TO GO OUTSIDE . LATER , A VARIANT
OF SOULINB CALLED “” GUISING “ EMERGED IN SCOTLAND
IN WHICH CHILDREN DRESS UP AND ASK NEIGHBORS FOR
FOOD OR MONEY IN EXCHANGE FOR A SONG OR POEM
IN NINETEEN CENTURY AMERICA, MASKED HOLLOWEEN
PRANKTERS WHICH WERE THEN HARDER TO IDENTIFY.