When did Halloween become American Trick or Treating..
The old English Halloween and the American ‘Trick or Treating’ (AKA demanding with menaces) appear to be two different things, and in England we didn’t have the American Trick or Treating, until sometime in the 1980’s.
The original English Halloween was a Christian holiday called All Hallow’s Eve, from way back in the eighth century, where Christians would honour saints and pray for souls who had not yet reached heaven.
Today, Christian attitudes towards Halloween are diverse.
- In the Anglican Church, some dioceses have chosen to emphasize the Christian traditions associated with All Hallow’s Eve. Some of these practices include praying, fasting and attending worship services.
Scotland and Ireland were more into something different, guising, the practice of wearing fancy dress, often with a mask, and visiting people’s houses, esp at Halloween.
It was in the 1930s when trick-or-treating appears to have become popular in the United States.
My first experience in England was about 1983. Until then I had never even heard of trick or treating, and had my door egged, when I opened it and stood there puzzled at the words ‘trick or treat’. I always have some eggs handy to reciprocate these days.
When is Halloween
Halloween or Hallowe’en also known as Allhalloween, All Hallows’ Eve, or All Saints’ Eve, is observed on the 31st October, each year. That is, the eve of All Hallows (All Saints) Day on the 1st November.
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