The custom of trick or treating probably has several origins.  The Celts tried to appease the evil spirits: ghosts, goblins, and demons. Huge "Samhain" bonfires were built to light the way for all the spirits to find their way in to the world of the living.  Frightened villagers tried to appease these wandering spirits by offering them gifts of fruit and nuts.  If they left nothing then a hexagram was painted on the door in blood indicating to the spirits were to sow their evil deeds.  It was thought that the spirits would kill their flocks or destroy their property. 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.  This was traditionally done on 2nd November, not the 30th October we celebrate today. Until very recently children would dress up as ghosts and goblins to scare the neighbors, but there was no trick or treating. Around 40 years ago people began to offer treats to their costumed visitors. And that is the origin of trick-or-treating we know today.

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