When the kids step out of the door in costume on Halloween with their treat buckets in hand, you can be sure they won’t be planning to offer prayers in exchange for candy at the houses they visit. No doubt they have never heard that trick-or-treating developed from the practice of “souling” in medieval Britain, where poor people went door to door on All Saints’ Day saying prayers for the dead in exchange for food. It was typically a small round cake that was given. And today’s parents following their children from house to house are watchful for modern day hazards, including cars and nefarious candy additions, not the Celtic fear of blurred boundary between the living and dead and harmful spirits that were thought to roam the earth at this harvest time of year.
Over time, these early rituals have morphed into the fun, non-religious activity where children dress up to visit houses to receive candy.
Decorating for Halloween gained popularity in the United States in the early 20th century. At first it was Halloween parties and haunted houses that became common in the 1920s and ’30s. Outdoor decorations, like jack-o’-lanterns and spooky themed yard displays became widespread in the 1950s and 60s. Now the trend has escalated, with many homes adorned with skeletons, gravestones, blow-up ghouls and elaborate light displays.