2007-10-31 07:20:17 · 19 answers · asked by playhard 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Halloween
that's a very good question. I have always wondered that.
2007-10-31 07:22:47 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Although some popular histories of Halloween have characterized trick-or-treating as an adult invention to rechannel Halloween activities away from vandalism, nothing in the historical record supports this theory. To the contrary, adults, as reported in newspapers from the mid-1930s to the mid-1950s, typically saw it as a form of extortion, with reactions ranging from bemused indulgence to anger. Likewise, as portrayed on radio shows, children would have to explain what trick-or-treating was to puzzled adults, and not the other way around. Sometimes even the children protested: for Halloween 1948, members of the Madison Square Boys Club in New York City carried a parade banner that read "American Boys Don't Beg."
2007-10-31 14:25:26 · answer #2 · answered by bewerefan 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Trick or Treat means to give a treat or to be tricked. I think this is an American thing. I grew up in Canada and we used to call ``Halloween Apples``.
2007-10-31 14:24:49 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's basically EXTORTION!
Trick-or-treating resembles the late medieval practice of "souling," when poor folk would go door to door, receiving food in return for prayers for the dead on All Souls Day (All Hallows Day). It originated in Ireland, and is still popular there, and in some parts of England and Scotland.[6]
2007-10-31 14:27:48 · answer #4 · answered by sakeena122577 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When someone comes to your door, you are supposed to give them a treat or show them a trick. Bad side is that if they do not recieve a treat, most of the times they will egg your house.
2007-10-31 14:23:15 · answer #5 · answered by Bill P 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It started out by the poor asking for food and money in return for praying for the souls of the deceased. The holiday evolved to some pretty rough tricks (and boys running rampant). The kids would knock on doors and ask for fire-wood for the bonfires. If they were denied, they would play "tricks" on the people... usually in the form of looting and destruction of property.
2007-10-31 14:24:50 · answer #6 · answered by doodlebuttus 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
when the kids come to the door and say trick or treat and you don't give them a treat then they can trick you. Meaning toilet paper your house or whatever kids do now days.
2007-10-31 14:27:16 · answer #7 · answered by Kassie D 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Goes back to Ireland and the Harvest
The practice of souling - going from door to door on or about All Souls Day to solicit gifts of food in return for prayers for the dead - evolved from a pagan ritual that was practiced all over Europe, possibly as early as the 10th century. As a Christian tradition it goes back to at least the 14th century, when it is mentioned by Chaucer. It is still commonplace in many Catholic countries, notably Ireland, where soul-cakes are left out for the departed.
2007-10-31 14:23:38 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
My opinion is: Give a treat, and there will be no trick played on your grounds.
It probably started with keeping the ghosts & gremlins at bay.
2007-10-31 14:22:51 · answer #9 · answered by iyamacog 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Im guessing if you didn't give the kids treats, they would give you a trick.
2007-10-31 15:32:39 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the homeowner is given the choice to give a treat or have a trick played on them. its simple extortion
2007-10-31 14:23:29 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋