By Sheila O’Kelly

The origins of’ ‘trick or treating’ remain uncertain but traces of it can be identified in ancient Celtic festivals. The Celts celebrated their New Year on the 1st November. On the 31st October, the Celts disguised themselves in costumes, wore masks and had big bonfires to appease the dead they believed returned to earth that night.

This pagan ritual combined with the Christian all Souls’ Day in Britain in the middle ages (500 – 1400-1500ce) led to some new traditions such as mumming, souling, dressing in costumes and visiting houses for treats and entertainment.

‘Souling’ was when children and poor people called to homes of wealthy people for food On All Souls’ Day and were given a soul cake in exchange for prayers for the homeowner’s deceased relatives.
A soul cake, also known as ‘Harcake’, was a small round cake resembling a biscuit and contained spices such as nutmeg, ginger and cinnamon. The Soul Cake Song, also known as the Cheshire Soul Cake Song is a traditional English solemn begging song containing three verses and the chorus. It was first published in 1893.

A Soul! A Soul! A Soul-cake!
Please, missus, a soul-cake,
An apple, a pear, a plum or a
cherry
Any good thing to make us merry,
One for Peter, two for Paul
Three for Him who made us all!

In the mid-1800s, Irish immigrants escaping the Famine brought their Hallowe’en traditions with them to America as a celebration of their Irish roots. The Americans loved the Hallowe’en customs and started doing the same. Hallowe’en eventually became part of the American culture.
‘Trick or treating’ is believed to have occurred in Central Canada before spreading to northern and western United States in the 1930s, and across to the rest of the United States throughout the 1940s and 1950s.
Sugar rationing prevailed in the United States during World War ll so children collected coins, nuts and fruit on Hallowe’en. The phrase ‘trick or treat’ is a subtle suggestion that if treats are given, children will not perform a trick on the householder.

Growing up in the 1960s, dressing up and going ‘trick or treating’ on Hallowe’en was an enjoyable experience for me except for that particular Hallowe’en night an incident occurred when my friend and I were out trick and treating. We didn’t dress in costume or wear a mask that night. We gave a rendition of ‘Old McDonald Had A Farm’ at every house on our street. Our collection of pennies and halfpennies in our old Oxo tin encouraged us to continue and reap the rewards of our melodious voices.

We turned onto the nearby poorly lit street and were immediately approached by three twelve-years- old boys, the same age as ourselves. Quick as a flash, one of the lads punched the bottom of the Oxo tin with his fist. The red square tin flew into the air and coins and box clattered onto the ground.

The lads laughed loudly at our dumbstruck faces. They then gathered up some of the scattered coins before running away. We picked up the remaining coins and put them in the tin. Tears streamed down our faces as we made our way home. I sobbed while relating our misfortune to my mother.

She put her comforting arms around me. “That was a very mean thing for them to do,” she said, wiping my tears away. I joined my siblings in the Hallowe’en games and forgot the mishap. Mam put her collection of buttons back into the tin and stored it away in the drawer. I didn’t know the name of the boy that punched the tin but his face was familiar to me.
A few days after the event, I saw him coming towards me on the path. This time he was alone. I was tempted to confront him to remind him of his cruel deed and let him know what I thought of him. Alas, courage failed me. Instead, I glared angrily at him.

He casually walked passed me staring ahead with his hands in his pockets pretending he didn’t see me. My childhood years of trick or treating ceased that Halloween night.
Trick or Treating has changed significantly over the years. It isn’t confined going from house to house. It now includes visits to local shops, pubs and shopping centres. Trick or treating is an enjoyable experience for children and remains a pleasant part of Hallowe’en. ÷

 

Continue reading in this week’s Ireland’s Own