Halloween Traditions

Halloween, celebrated annually on October 31st,

s lled w t eer e costu es, spooky decorations and sweet treats ile t e oliday

as e ol ed into a esti e, co ercial occasion, its roots run deep in istory

et s e plore t e ori ins o Halloween and so e o t e un custo s associated wit it

The holiday’s origin

Halloween’s roots can be traced back to t e eltic esti al o a ain e elts were a roup o people t at li ed in w at is now reland and parts o rance o er , years a o ey belie ed t at t e spirits o t e dead returned to art on a ain eld on o e ber Howe er, it was later o ed to October 31st and rena ed ll Hallows is later e ol ed into Halloween.

e oliday was introduced in erica in t e id 1 s. t was an instant it wit residents o t e out ern olonies. ey arked t e day by s arin ost stories, dancin and sin in to re e ber t e deceased. y t e end o t e century, Halloween’s popularity ad spread across t e .

Trick-or-treating

rick or treatin can be credited to t e o an

ll ouls’ ay. On t is day, residents in need would knock on t e doors o t e wealt y and o er a prayer or t eir dead in e c an e or soul cakes. oulin , as it was called, took a twist w en ris and cottis kids, dressed in costu es, started ettin treats or sin in or recitin poe s. i rants ro t e two countries introduced t e un custo to erica in t e early century, and t e rest, as t ey say is istory

e ori inal treats o c oice were ruit, nuts, coins and s all toys. n t e 1 s, candy co panies introduced s all, indi idually wrapped con ections durin Halloween. at elped increase sales. ut candy did not beco e t e do inant treat until t e 1 s a ter parents be an to ear acceptin anyt in unwrapped. oday, o er illion pounds

illion k o candy are sold yearly on Halloween e oliday accounts or about 1 o annual candy sales. t yields anu acturers o er . billion e ery year.

Jack o’ lanterns

o Halloween is co plete wit out a spooky ack o’ lantern. is un custo was started by t e ris . ey car ed lanterns ro turnips and potatoes to ward o e il spirits.

en t e i i rants arri ed in erica, t ey disco ered pu pkins. ince t en, t e oran e ourds a e beco e t e ruit o c oice.

Candy corn

andy corn beca e popular a ter t e oelit on ectionery o pany be an ass production in t e 1 s. e candy aker initially arketed t e treat as icken eed. ey sold it in a bo eaturin a rooster wit t e ta line, o et in wort crowin or.

Howe er, around 1 , people be an to and out candy corn to trick or treaters. e ar est t e ed sweets were especially popular in rural erica, and a new tradition was born.

oday, nearly 3 illion pounds

1 . illion k o candy corn is sold durin Halloween.