Trick-or-treating traces to Celtic Samhain and Scottish guising
The gist
Trick-or-treating reached the U.S. in the 1920s, per the Smithsonian, after centuries of Celtic and Irish roots.
The custom blends Samhain, church feast days and door-to-door guising into today's ritual.
How it unfolded
- Over 2,000 years agoHalloween's roots trace to the Celtic holiday Samhain, or "summer's end" in Irish, falling around Nov. 1 and marking a new year in Celtic tradition.
- 7th centuryUnder Pope Gregory III, the Catholic Church moved its celebration of saints to Nov. 1, later known as All Saints' Day; the night before became All Hallows' Eve, later Halloween.
- 16th century"Guising" was a popular All Hallows' Eve tradition for children in Scotland and Ireland, who dressed in disguises and went door-to-door offering entertainment like singing or poetry for treats.