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SageCat · Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 7:51 pm Post subject: Trick or Treat?

A little bit about the origins of Trick or Treat ......................

Some trace the origins of present day "trick-or-treat" to Samhain, which was the supreme night of demonic jubilation. Spirits of the dead would rise out of their graves and wander the countryside, trying to return to the homes where they formerly lived. Frightened villagers tried to appease these wandering spirits by offering them gifts of fruit and nuts. They began the tradition of placing plates of the finest food and bits of treats that the household had to offer on their doorsteps, as gifts, to appease the hunger of the ghostly wanderers. If not placated, villagers feared that the spirits would kill their flocks or destroy their property.

The problem was... if the souls of dead loved ones could return that night, so could anything else, human or not, nice or not-so-nice. The only thing the superstitious people knew to do to protect themselves on such an occasion was to masquerade as one of the demonic hoard, and hopefully blend in unnoticed among them. Wearing masks and other disguises and blackening the face with soot were originally ways of hiding oneself from the spirits of the dead who might be roaming around. This is the origin of Halloween masquerading as devils, imps, ogres, and other demonic creatures.

Others trace "trick-or-treat" to a European custom called "souling". Beggars would go from village to village begging for "soul cakes" made out of square pieces of bread with currants. The more soul cakes the beggars would receive, the more prayers they would promise to say on behalf of the dead relatives of the donors. At the time, it was believed that the dead remained in limbo for a time after death, and that prayer, even by strangers could guarantee a soul's passage to heaven.

In many parts of Britain and Ireland this night used to be known as 'Mischief Night', which meant that people were free to go around the village playing pranks and getting up to any kind of mischief without fear of being punished. Many of the different customs were taken to the United States by Irish and Scottish immigrants in the nineteenth century, and they developed into 'trick or treat'.

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RavenStar · Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 8:01 pm Post subject:

Thanks for that SC ~ very interesting.

Koko · Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2007 12:41 am Post subject:

I love reading about the beginnings of any traditions. I think this is a great tradition, too.
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"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." - Anatole France

Riktor48 · Admin Joined: 11 Aug 2007 Posts: 1281 Location: Essex, UK

Many thanks Sage

Sadly, many these days abuse the tradition - so much so that some supermarkets and food stores ban the sale of such items as flour and eggs to youngsters and those they suspect of not being bone-fide. And also the police have warned once again they'll take tough action against any harassment and anti-social behaviour.

It's a sad reflection of the times.
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Learn from the birds what food the thickets yield; Learn from the beasts the physic of the field; The arts of building from the bee receive; Learn of the mole to plough, the worm to weave. (Alexander Pope - Essay on Man)

Minty · Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2007 4:35 pm Post subject:

I read somewhere that in some places (I think one was Canada) that the locals have printed opt-out leaflets. Basically if you don't want trick or treaters knocking at your door your put one of these leaflets up in the window and it says that you won't open the door to them. Sounds like a good idea, some of the masks that I've seen in the past are nasty! And some of the yobs just use it as an excuse to terrorise people for sweets or more often money!

BB, Minty. xx
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Riktor48 · Admin Joined: 11 Aug 2007 Posts: 1281 Location: Essex, UK

Good idea in theory - but I suspect in practice it'll just encourage the yobs by targeting those that put such sticker up in their windows.

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Learn from the birds what food the thickets yield; Learn from the beasts the physic of the field; The arts of building from the bee receive; Learn of the mole to plough, the worm to weave. (Alexander Pope - Essay on Man)

Koko · Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2007 6:07 pm Post subject:

I'm with Rik on that one...I have learned in the past if you just turn off outside lights and keep inside down a bit, you have better luck at surviving the night with nothing happening...
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"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." - Anatole France

SageCat · Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2007 8:20 pm Post subject:

Koko · Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:18 pm Post subject:

I'll be waiting with a hot tottie...
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"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." - Anatole France

SageCat · Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2007 10:57 am Post subject:

Yummie! Of course I shall come equipped with oodles of chocolate treats for us to feast on!

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