The Origin of the "Trick-or-Treating" Tradition

Soul Cakes
By Anna
@LadyDuck (486660)
Italy
October 22, 2025 7:17am CST
Most of myLot members surely know that "trick-or-treating" is a Halloween tradition in which children go door-to-door and recite the phrase to receive candy. This tradition, called "souling", dates back to the Middle Ages, where it was particularly widespread in the British Isles. The poor would go door-to-door on All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, offering prayers and songs for the deceased. In return, they received "soul cakes." These were small, round cakes filled with sweet spices, similar to shortbread cookies. Do you know any unusual Halloween traditions to share?
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25 responses
@celticeagle (181520)
• Boise, Idaho
22 Oct
I recall reading about this. Halloween is my favorite holiday. I feel good. I will be posting soon about some Halloween superstitions that I thought ere interesting. I hope you will as well.
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@celticeagle (181520)
• Boise, Idaho
22 Oct
@LadyDuck .......Sweet bread? Interesting. The post is coming soon.
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@LadyDuck (486660)
• Italy
23 Oct
@celticeagle I went to bed, now I am up and I check the new discussions.
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@LadyDuck (486660)
• Italy
22 Oct
In the north of Italy we also prepare a special sweet bread for All Souls' Day. I am going to check your post about Halloween.
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@LindaOHio (205407)
• United States
23 Oct
No, I don't know of any unusual Halloween traditions. Thank you for sharing souling with us.
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@LadyDuck (486660)
• Italy
23 Oct
I am planning to prepare our north Italian sweet bread for All Souls' day.
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@LadyDuck (486660)
• Italy
24 Oct
@LindaOHio I remember that those sweet breads were so good. Individual bakeries have disappeared, what a shame!
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@LindaOHio (205407)
• United States
24 Oct
@LadyDuck That sounds delicious.
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@AmbiePam (105828)
• United States
22 Oct
I don’t think I know of any. I used to hand out candy when I lived with my parents, but once I moved they turned their porch light out, which signals there is no candy here!
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@AmbiePam (105828)
• United States
23 Oct
@LadyDuck Oh, we don’t have trouble like that here. Kids are accompanied by adults. The biggest danger is getting hit by a car.
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@LadyDuck (486660)
• Italy
23 Oct
I am sure that it is safer not to open the door in the evening in our days. I am glad we do not have the Trick-or-Treat tradition here.
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@LadyDuck (486660)
• Italy
23 Oct
@AmbiePam - It's not that I fear for kids, I do not feel safe opening my door to strangers. Where we live is very safe and I know all my neighbors, but I would not open the door to someone I do not know.
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@xFiacre (14556)
• Ireland
22 Oct
@ladyduck I find the whole thing bizarre. I try to be out on Hallowe'en night so that I'm not in to be pestered by children wanting stuff. What I really hate is fireworks.
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@LadyDuck (486660)
• Italy
22 Oct
I would hate to be pestered by children wanting stuff. No fireworks here, I have to say that I am glad that is not a holiday we celebrate.
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@LadyDuck (486660)
• Italy
22 Oct
@xFiacre I understand and I would be extremely irritated. I dislike noise.
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@xFiacre (14556)
• Ireland
22 Oct
@LadyDuck The fireworks go on for weeks and are very irritating.
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@Deepizzaguy (115838)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
23 Oct
I have no unusual Halloween traditions to share on this site.
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@LadyDuck (486660)
• Italy
23 Oct
It's not at all a big thing here. No one decorates for Halloween.
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@Deepizzaguy (115838)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
23 Oct
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@porwest (110785)
• United States
22 Oct
None I can think of, really. A lot of people do barbecues and drinking parties as they hand out candy. It can be a lot of fun.
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@LadyDuck (486660)
• Italy
22 Oct
I am sure it is a lot of fun, the nights are not yet really cool.
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@porwest (110785)
• United States
23 Oct
@LadyDuck It's usually a toss up what the weather will be like. Some years it's still rather nice out. Other times it's cold and damp. It just depends.
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@LadyDuck (486660)
• Italy
23 Oct
@porwest - Today it was a horrible rainy day, but tomorrow should be again warm and sunny. You never know how autumn days will turn.
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@snowy22315 (198383)
• United States
22 Oct
I did not know about the souling. I thought Halloween was related to the old Celtic holiday Samhain.
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@LadyDuck (486660)
• Italy
22 Oct
It is correct, Halloween is related to the old Celtic holiday Samhain, but Trick-or-Treat is from the Souling tradition.
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@May2k8 (19151)
• Indonesia
22 Oct
There are things that cannot be done freely here, maybe some celebrate Halloween where they live. I can't think of any traditions, there are 5 kinds of religions here.
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@LeaPea2417 (38701)
• Toccoa, Georgia
22 Oct
I knew about that.
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@LeaPea2417 (38701)
• Toccoa, Georgia
23 Oct
@LadyDuck interesting
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@LadyDuck (486660)
• Italy
23 Oct
We have the tradition to eat flat sweet breads made with corn for All Souls' Day, but I ignored it was a British Islands tradition.
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@RasmaSandra (90615)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
22 Oct
There was no actual Halloween celebrating in Latvia when I lived there but at home we carved a pumpkin and jsut remembered spooky fun. They did do costumes at school and sometimes kids came but mostley no one was used to it, Of course, young adults caught on and filled the bars with Halloween mayhem,
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@LadyDuck (486660)
• Italy
23 Oct
It was not even known in Italy when I was a kid. The only time of the year we wore costumes was the week before Lent.
3 people like this
• United States
22 Oct
Halloween is really big here and all the hoopla starts by the 1st of October. People now decorate their homes for Halloween like they do for Christmas. It was just a day for trick or treating when I was growing up but now it's become huge. Thankfully my town has limited the trick or treating to certain hours (6pm to 9pm) so there's no all day long with the bell ringing.
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@LadyDuck (486660)
• Italy
22 Oct
Too much always becomes annoying. I think that 9 pm is late enough and children should not even be outside after that time in the evening.
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@JudyEv (365062)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Oct
Halloween has invaded our shores too over the last generation or so I guess. My BIL's neighbour has a huge redback spider on his roof and a blown-up giant thing on his verandah. I think he is Irish but he is really getting into the whole Halloween thing. I didn't know that about All Saints' Day. Thanks for the information.
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@LadyDuck (486660)
• Italy
23 Oct
@JudyEv Those are nice decorations, some people spend a lot to decorate.
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@LadyDuck (486660)
• Italy
23 Oct
I remember that in Switzerland they tried to push the holiday, surely to boost the commerce, but people have never been interested. I am noticing that it's ignored even here in Italy.
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@JudyEv (365062)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Oct
@LadyDuck We went past a house today that had cobwebs all over their shrubs.
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@Traceyjayne (6305)
• United Kingdom
23 Oct
Unfortunately it’s become more and more popular here the last few years. Luckily we dont get bothered with trick or treating.
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@LadyDuck (486660)
• Italy
23 Oct
We have never been bothered with tricks and treat and I hope they will never be in the future.
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• Philippines
23 Oct
It is a good thing that Halloween is not a holiday here in the Philippines,yes people observed it but most of us during october- November we are going to the cemeteries to prepare for all souls day. And I've watched several videos in other social media platforms buying expensive Halloween decorations spending hundred or thousands of dollars just for the decorations.
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@LadyDuck (486660)
• Italy
23 Oct
We do not celebrate Halloween here in Italy, but w also visit the cemeteries on All Souls' Day to bring flowers to those we loved.
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@much2say (57419)
• Los Angeles, California
2 Nov
Souling - interesting term! I would love to try one of those "soul cakes" ! I can't really think of any unusual Halloween traditions, but certainly Halloween has changed since my childhood. Less are participating in trick or treating these days (either going or giving). So nice to see a post from you .
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@much2say (57419)
• Los Angeles, California
3 Nov
Oh sweet @LadyDuck - I have missed you too . That reminds me of Cinco de Mayo here . . . it's not celebrated in Mexico, but it is here . . . and it gives people an excuse to party and drink . Drinking celebrations often mean too many dangerous drivers on the road - I hate that. Thank you for the Soul Cake recipe! This is a good change from the typical candy and color ridden cupcakes the kids get here. Do you make these each year?
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@LadyDuck (486660)
• Italy
3 Nov
@much2say - In our days it seems that no matter which celebration is an excuse to party and get drunk, it's no more pleasant. I did not make the cakes this year, I am still adjusting at our new apartment and I have to replace some of my pots and pans, I had gas stove in Switzerland and here it's induction. I am adjusting but it takes a little time.
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@LadyDuck (486660)
• Italy
2 Nov
Hello, it's also so nice to see you around, I missed you. Halloween it's not very popular here in Europe, but it seems an excuse for teenagers to do stupid pranks and to get drunk. I regret it was "imported". This is a recipe for the soul cakes
Soul cakes are a British treat traditionally served during Halloween, All Saints Day and All Souls Day. Sweet, delicately spiced & packed with juicy currants. Shropshire soul cakes are quick & easy.
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@moffittjc (126146)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 Nov
That is very interesting. I never knew the origin of the modern trick-or-treat tradition we follow.
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@LadyDuck (486660)
• Italy
2 Nov
I knew that Halloween was an ancient traditions of the Celts, but I thought that Trick-or-Treat was a modern commercial thing.
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@LadyDuck (486660)
• Italy
3 Nov
@moffittjc - Look at Christmas, nothing is left of the real meaning of this holiday, it's all commercial now.
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@moffittjc (126146)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 Nov
@LadyDuck That's what I thought as well. Everything seems to be commercialized these days, even ancient traditions.
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@noni1959 (11025)
• United States
28 Oct
I don't know of any unusual here. It's the regular door-to-door, church "Harvest" parties, and trunk-or-treats. I didn't know about soul cakes. Such an interesting story.
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@LadyDuck (486660)
• Italy
28 Oct
Hi Loretta, I hope you are well. Marie Coyle mentioned the trunk-or-treats, surely a lot safer for kids.
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@LadyDuck (486660)
• Italy
29 Oct
@noni1959 - We moved from Switzerland to Italy because my husband has health problems. It was so exhausting and it took forever. Now I have a bit more time to be here in myLot. What is more important during Halloween is to keep kids safe.
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@noni1959 (11025)
• United States
28 Oct
@LadyDuck Hi Anna! I'm am doing well. I hope you are as well. I was excited to see a new posts by you. I agree with Marie. The trunk-or-treats are safer. Churches do the Harvest events with games, candy, and fun too. Someone said some of the businesses are going to stay open later for kids can drop by and get candy.
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@JESSY3236 (21244)
• United States
28 Oct
I didn't know that. I don't know any unusual ones.
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@LadyDuck (486660)
• Italy
29 Oct
Hello Jessica, nice to see you. I hope you are well.
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@LadyDuck (486660)
• Italy
4 Nov
@JESSY3236 - I am very sorry, it happened to me a lot when I was younger, but aging my headaches almost disappeared.
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@JESSY3236 (21244)
• United States
4 Nov
@LadyDuck I am better than I was yesterday. I had a headache most of the day.
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@Nevena83 (66027)
• Serbia
27 Oct
We don't celebrate it here. More precisely, in the last couple of years, they've imposed it on us first in schools. I see that children find it interesting to wear different costumes. And I also see that some people have a masked party on that day.
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@LadyDuck (486660)
• Italy
28 Oct
They did the same in Switzerland and here in Italy, they tried to impose Halloween because it's a big commercial thing and stores would have loved to see people buying more, but it did not take.
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@LadyDuck (486660)
• Italy
1 Nov
@Nevena83 - Wasting money for decorations and to give away candies is ridiculous.
@Nevena83 (66027)
• Serbia
31 Oct
@LadyDuck I definitely don't like that.
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@MarieCoyle (50508)
27 Oct
I think I want to make some soul cakes. They sound delicious to me! Halloween traditions, no...in the US it seems to be how many decorations a person puts up, etc. and then of course some have Halloween parties, dress in costumes, and others just basically hand out candy on Halloween night. I always did the candy when the kids were at home still. When I moved last time, I moved to an area that really encourages the families with kids to use the ''Trunk or Treat'' events that are hosted. These are mostly done for safety. Plus, the kids can get their candy and treats, there are a lot of adults, and these are usually held either outside in a well-lit parking lot, like a church or another large area that's similar. They offer things for the kids to do, like cake walks, bounce houses, etc. so no one has very many, if any, Trick or Treaters here that come to their homes. It's sort of a rule that if you want to give out candy, leave your outside porch light on.
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@LadyDuck (486660)
• Italy
27 Oct
I also want to make some, I am sure that they are good and must be pretty simple to make. I think that the way Halloween is celebrate where you are is much better. I would not want that my kids eat candies they get knocking at the doors. The world is weird now and I would not feel safe. You can poison even stuff that look perfectly sealed.
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@MarieCoyle (50508)
29 Oct
@LadyDuck I used to take my kids back when they were little. But, we went to only the homes of very close friends and some nearby family, that was all. They still had plenty of goodies with that, plus no door-to-door.
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@MarieCoyle (50508)
30 Oct
@LadyDuck One of our ''Swiss boys'' who lived with us for several years to go to college, had a sister who taught school in Switzerland. She liked the Halloween decorations, so he bought some here in the US and sent them to her for her class. She said they were a big hit with the kids she taught.
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