Every October 31, millions of kids transform into tiny ghosts, superheroes, and vampires and set out on a mission: collect as much candy as humanly possible before bedtime. Parents trail behind, neighbors brace for the sugar rush, and doorbells across the country get their biggest workout of the year. But behind this candy-coated chaos lies a story that’s far stranger than you might think—one that starts not with chocolate bars, but with ghosts, prayers, and even turnips.
Before Candy Came Ghosts: The Ancient Roots
More than two millennia ago, the ancient Celts gathered on the night of October 31 for the festival of Samhain , marking the end of the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter. On this otherworldly evening, Celts believed the boundary between the living and the dead thinned, and spirits, fairies, and whatever lurked between worlds might just roam free. To maintain peace, villagers would light towering bonfires, carve turnips into lanterns, and set out portions of food and drink for the wandering souls.
Over centuries, that eerie mix of scary spirits, offerings, and fairies would morph into something much more playful. But long before we handed out chocolate bars to pint-sized goblins, people left treats for actual specters.
Medieval Makeovers: From Spirits to “Soulers”
In medieval Europe, the ghostly customs of Samhain took on a new, Christian twist. By the time All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day rolled around in early November, people had begun honoring the dead not with offerings to spirits, but with prayers for souls in purgatory. Out of this mix of faith and old-world superstition came souling, a kind of medieval door-to-door ritual where the poor (and plenty of children) went knocking for “soul cakes.” These little pastries were spiced with nutmeg and cinnamon, freckled with currants, and often stamped with a tiny cross. In return for a cake, a prayer was promised—a sweet trade between the living and the dead.
The idea was simple: say a prayer for someone’s soul, and you might just earn a little heavenly credit yourself. In exchange, homeowners handed out small soul cakes, crumbly, spiced pastries said to bring luck to anyone who ate them. Some people offered more than baked goods, too: a splash of wine or a few coins to sweeten the afterlife. In misty corners of Britain and Ireland, bands of “soulers” wandered from house to house, singing, praying, and asking for a small token in return.
Somewhere between faith and folklore, Halloween’s habit of knocking for treats was born.
Mischief Night and the Birth of the “Trick”
By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Halloween had become more about pranks than platters of pastries. “Mischief Night” traditions included soaping windows, tipping over outhouses, and other chaotic pranks—if you didn’t hand over a treat, you might get a trick.
In Canada, the phrase “trick or treat” popped up in newspapers as early as 1917. Before long, homeowners realized it was cheaper (and far less stressful) to hand out candy than to clean up after pranks. Over time, the “treat” took center stage, and the “trick” faded into playful tradition.
When sugar rationing ended after World War II, candy makers saw an opportunity and turned Halloween into a confectioner’s dream. What was once a night of nuts, fruit, and homemade sweets became a celebration of chocolate bars, candy corn, and jawbreakers. In the 1950s, candy ads paired with growing suburban neighborhoods helped cement trick-or-treating as a kids-only national pastime.
Sweet Takeaway: From Spirits to Snickers Bars
From Celtic bonfires to medieval soul cakes to the candy-filled streets of today, the spirit of Halloween has always been about connection: people coming together, exchanging gifts, and keeping old rituals alive in new ways. Whether you’re calling out “Trick or treat!” or dropping candy into an orange bucket, you’re carrying on a 2,000-year-old story that celebrates mischief, magic, and the joy of the unexpected.
Looking For More?
Ready to take spooky season to the next level? Are you out for chills and thrills? Visit Ripley’s Haunted Adventure in Gatlinburg to get in the spooky season spirit!