Written By Sam Henselijn
Why Do You Hand Out Candy On Halloween? October 31st goes by many names, including All-Hallows Eve, All Saints’ Eve, or more popularly, Halloween. Whatever you may call it, the fact is that this is unquestionably one of the most beloved holidays in our country. And, luckily for us, it’s all about the candy…
Halloween History
Have you ever wondered about the origin of Halloween? The now classic holiday is a lot older than you might think. And yes, witches were part of the story from the very beginning.
The history of Halloween is ancient, dating all the way back to
the Celts of Ireland. Back then, New Year was celebrated on November 1. The day marked the transition from the fruitful months of summer to the cold and dark winter, which was then associated with death. So, on October 31, the night before the new year, they celebrated Samhain. It was a night when the boundary between the living world and the world of the dead stretched thin. They believed the spirits of the dead could cross over into our world.
Though impossible to prove for sure, many scholars believe there’s a direct connection between Halloween and Samhain. It’s easy to see how these dates and traditions could have influenced each other and eventually be combined into the celebration now known as Halloween.
Everything else came later: The fun costumes, fires, spooky stories, and of course, all the attention around Halloween candy.
Why Do You Hand Out Candy On Halloween?
What we regard today as a fun activity or a common tradition goes way back. Like, waaaaay back. Would you believe us if we told you trick-or-treating has existed since medieval times?
The practice can be traced back to a time when the Catholic Church started supplanting pagan festivals with their own holidays, such as the All Souls’ Day. People believed phantoms roamed the earth on the night of Samhain, so they would dress up in costumes in an effort to repel the spirits. The poor would go door-to-door dressed as ghosts accepting food in exchange for prayers.
Trick-or-treating was also a thing in Europe before it reached America. In Scotland and Ireland the custom was known as “guising”. Young people would dress up in all sorts of costumes to go door-to-door looking for food or money. In return, they offered songs, poems or other “tricks” they performed. Eventually, the tradition has turned into children getting dressed up and asking for candy.
These days, passing out candy to trick-or-treaters is more about having fun with friends and family. And of course, it is a lovely opportunity to encourage beautiful traits like sharing and feeling the joy of giving.
Modern Trick-or-Treatin
In the 60’s, Halloween was almost exclusively a kids holiday, and most households offered homemade treats to trick-or-treaters. That is not true anymore, of course. Even if you don’t go trick-or-treating yourself, it’s perfectly acceptable to dress up and join the festivities! And being able to buy bags of candy is a lot more convenient too…
Here’s our selection of the best types of candy to give out this year
Halloween Candy Corn
Candy corn is essential to any Halloween celebration. While the
original version is delicious, we’ve made it even better with the addition of caramel in our Caramel Candy Corn.
Halloween Gummies
Halloween gummy candies are the best for younger kids and so very versatile too. Besides simply enjoying them on their own, they can also be used in a number of ways. Decorate your holiday table or use them to play Halloween-themed games. Check out our range of festive gummies, like these cute hairy spiders, worms, and pumpkins.
Chocolate Halloween Candy
Nobody doesn’t like chocolate… So if you want to please Romans and Trojans this holiday season, be sure to include a few choccy treats among your offerings. We’re partial, but these Milk Chocolate Coconut Sea Salt Caramels and Milk Chocolate Caramels are absolutely addictive!
Vegan Halloween Candy
It’s always nice to be mindful of everyone’s dietary preferences when planning a party. Making sure everyone can join in on the fun is part of being a good host, so for all our vegans out there, we think you’ll love these: Nature’s Delight, Happy Heart Raw Mix, and Macadamia Nut Mix.
FAQ Halloween
What is the origin of Halloween?
Halloween dates back to the Celts of Ireland, where New Year was celebrated on November 1. October 31 marked the transition to the colder, darker winter months associated with death. On this night, called Samhain, it was believed that the spirits of the dead could cross over into the living world.
How did trick-or-treating start?
Trick-or-treating has roots in medieval times, evolving from the practice of the poor going door-to-door dressed as ghosts, accepting food in exchange for prayers during the All Souls’ Day. This tradition was known as “guising” in Scotland and Ireland, where young people would exchange performances for food or money.
Why do people hand out candy on Halloween?
Handing out candy during Halloween is a modern evolution of ancient traditions mixed with practices from medieval times. Today, it is more about having fun and sharing with friends and family, fostering a sense of community and the joy of giving.
Sam Henselijn Author’s Biography – Meet L’Orenta Nuts CEO
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