Have you ever wondered where the idea for trick or treating on Halloween night came from? There are many theories on the subject, but the costumes and the begging for candy are probably a mixture of a couple of different cultures. The English had the tradition of asking for a sweet on Halloween night in exchange for saying a prayer for the dead. In Ireland, villagers would dress in costumes to scare the soulless ghosts away before they could steal their souls. It is probably a combination of these two traditions that are responsible for the way that we celebrate Halloween night today.

It is an odd tradition when you think about it. We dress our children up in scary or not so scary costumes and send them out to beg for candy from the neighbors. At no other time of the year would it be appropriate to walk up your neighbor’s walkway and tell them that if they don’t give you some candy you are going to pull a prank on them. But on Halloween night not only is this acceptable, it is expected.

Whatever the origin of Halloween, it is a great deal of fun for children. It is the one night of the year when parents everywhere are endorsing candy and giving it away freely. Most of the year, all children hear is that candy is not good for them and that they will be ruining their teeth if they eat sugary snacks.

Think about the Halloween nights of your past. This was the night when you dressed up as your favorite hero and went out with your friends to fill a pillowcase full of as much candy as you could get. It was a night of camaraderie with friends and an adventure out without the parents. Today’s children do not have the same kind of freedom to roam the streets without parental supervision, but there is no reason that they can’t still have fun on Halloween night.

Halloween parties have become very popular for children instead of trick or treating. It is considered to be a safer alternative to the door to door aspect of traditional Halloween night activities. Parents can supervise the activity and make sure that the children are safe during their party. It is a great way for kids to show off their costumes and have some fun during the night. Get some spooky movies for a smaller crowd and let the kids have a great time.

© 2009 Fiona Wong All Rights Reserved