Halloween History

HALLOWEEN-the evening of October 31. The eve of All Saints' Day, Allhallows Eve. Observed especially by children in costumes who solicit treats, often by threatening minor pranks.

Halloween is a holiday celebrated on the night of October 31. Traditional activities include trick-or-treating, bonfires, costume parties, visiting "haunted houses" and carving jack-o-lanterns. Irish and Scottish immigrants carried the tradition to North America in the 19th century. Other western countries started the holiday in the late 20th century including Ireland, the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom as well as of Australia and New Zealand.


Trick-or-treating, is an activity for children on or around Halloween in which they proceed from house to house in costumes, asking for treats with the question, "Trick or treat?" The "trick" part of "trick or treat" is a threat to play a trick on the homeowner or his property if no treat is given. Trick-or-treating is one of the main traditions of Halloween. It has become socially expected that if one lives in a neighborhood with children one should purchase treats in preparation for trick-or-treaters.