How Poor People Started the Trick-or-Treating Tradition for Halloween

(KTDY) - One thing most kids look forward to all year long is Trick-or-Treating for Halloween, but do you know where it all started, and why people went door-to-door?

While many people today associate Trick-or-Treating with getting candy from strangers, that's not how it all started, and it wasn't the objective of most who were knocking on doors.

Trick-or-treating originated in North America in the 1920s, but the tradition gained momentum in the 1950s as children began going door-to-door to ask for candy. However, for those in the Middle Ages, people who knocked on doors before All Saints' Day would ask for food in exchange for prayers.

The intent of those knocking, who were often poor, was to offer up prayers for those who had died, in hopes that people would give them food in exchange for the prayers.

In places like Engalnd and Scotland, poor people would dress up in costumes, knock on doors, and ask homeowners if they wanted entertainment — often in the form of dances or tricks — in return for food. So, as you can see, Trick-or-Treating generations ago was almost a form of survival for so many.

Now, while it's not so much a form of survival, Trick-or-Treating does provide entertainment for kids and families who may not otherwise be able to afford having "fun" as a family. In the 1950s, Trick-or-Treating really started to evolve into what iit is today: asking for candy while in fun decor.

Now that you know a bit of the history of Trick-or-Treating, we hope you and your kids enjoy Halloweed, and please be safe.

Trick-or-Treating Safety Tips

Always have your kids wear bright-colored costumes, and never let them walk in the middle of the street. It's also a great idea to have them carry a flashlight or something that lights up so that drivers can see them as they navigate through neighborhoods.

Kids should also avoid running through strangers' yards because there may be hazards they are not familiar with.

Parents should also inspect all the candy that their kids get on Halloween night. Sadly, that is the world we are in, and it's best to inspect anything your kid gets before they consume it. And never let your kids eat anything that wasn't wrapped or sealed.