How Halloween Came to Be
Halloween, celebrated on October 31, has its roots in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. Samhain marked the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter, a time when people believed the boundary between the living and the dead was blurred. To ward off wandering spirits, the Celts would light bonfires and wear costumes. As Christianity spread, the festival merged with All Saints’ Day, or All Hallows’ Eve, which eventually became Halloween.

The Origins of “Trick or Treat”
The tradition of “Trick or Treat” has its origins in medieval Europe, where people participated in a practice called “souling.” Poor individuals would go door-to-door offering prayers for the dead in exchange for food. In Scotland and Ireland, this evolved into “guising,” where children would dress in costumes and perform songs, poems, or jokes for rewards. When European immigrants brought these traditions to America, they blended together and became what we now know as Trick or Treating.

Why We Give Candy
By the 1950s, Halloween had evolved into a family-centered holiday in the U.S., and Trick or Treating became widespread. Giving candy specifically became the norm after candy companies began marketing their products as the perfect Halloween treat. Miniature candy bars, easy to distribute and individually wrapped, became a popular choice for homeowners, cementing candy as the staple of Halloween.

Countries That Celebrate Halloween
While Halloween is most popular in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, many other countries have embraced the holiday. Countries like Mexico (where it coincides with Día de los Muertos), Ireland, Australia, and parts of Europe and Asia also observe Halloween traditions, with celebrations growing in global popularity each year.