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

Soul Cakes

@LadyDuck (485527)

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?

15 people like this

13 responses

@celticeagle (180886)

• Boise, Idaho

15h

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.

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (485527)

• Italy

15h

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.

1 person likes this

@celticeagle (180886)

• Boise, Idaho

12h

@LadyDuck .......Sweet bread? Interesting. The post is coming soon.

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (485527)

• Italy

1h

@celticeagle I went to bed, now I am up and I check the new discussions.

@AmbiePam (104649)

• United States

11h

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 (104649)

• United States

Just now

@LadyDuck Oh, we don’t have trouble like that here. Kids are accompanied by adults. The biggest danger is getting hit by a car.

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (485527)

• Italy

1h

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 (485527)

• Italy

Just now

@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.

1 person likes this

@xFiacre (14522)

• Ireland

18h

@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 (485527)

• Italy

18h

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 (485527)

• Italy

18h

@xFiacre I understand and I would be extremely irritated. I dislike noise.

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@xFiacre (14522)

• Ireland

18h

@LadyDuck The fireworks go on for weeks and are very irritating.

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@JudyEv (364632)

• Rockingham, Australia

4h

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.

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (485527)

• Italy

1h

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.

@Traceyjayne (5962)

• United Kingdom

7h

Unfortunately it’s become more and more popular here the last few years. Luckily we dont get bothered with trick or treating.

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (485527)

• Italy

1h

We have never been bothered with tricks and treat and I hope they will never be in the future.

@princessmarie (1108)

• Philippines

3h

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.

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (485527)

• Italy

2h

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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@snowy22315 (197725)

• United States

15h

I did not know about the souling. I thought Halloween was related to the old Celtic holiday Samhain.

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@LadyDuck (485527)

• Italy

15h

It is correct, Halloween is related to the old Celtic holiday Samhain, but Trick-or-Treat is from the Souling tradition.

1 person likes this

@May2k8 (19058)

• Indonesia

17h

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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Anne Marie Guyer

@LeaPea2417 (38589)

• Toccoa, Georgia

11h

I knew about that.

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (485527)

• Italy

1h

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.

@RasmaSandra (90067)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

9h

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,

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (485527)

• Italy

1h

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.

@Marilynda1225 (86607)

• United States

16h

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.

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (485527)

• Italy

16h

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.

@Deepizzaguy (115312)

• Lake Charles, Louisiana

8h

I have no unusual Halloween traditions to share on this site.

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (485527)

• Italy

1h

It's not at all a big thing here. No one decorates for Halloween.

@porwest (109696)

• United States

18h

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.

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (485527)

• Italy

18h

I am sure it is a lot of fun, the nights are not yet really cool.