History of Halloween
The origin of Halloween began when it was an ancient Celtic festival in Great Britain and Ireland, and has survived most strongly among Irish, Scottish and Welsh communities. Immigrants from these communities carried the tradition to North America where it has gained in popularity. In turn, as part of American pop culture, Halloween has spread in popularity to most corners of the English speaking western world, and increasingly into Western Europe in recent times.
Originally Halloween began as a pagan festival, around the idea of linking the living with the dead, when it became possible there could be contact between the spirits beyond the grave and the present physical world, and magical things could happen. As with most pagan celebrations, it was absorbed into the calendar of the growing Christian church long ago. It was added to All Hallows Day, or All Saints Day, which eventually fell on November 1 under the Gregorian calendar. A vigil for All Hallows Day was held on All Hallows Evening on October 31. In the speech of the times, All Hallows Evening became Hallowe'en, and later the Halloween we know today.
The celebration of Halloween survived most strongly in Ireland. It was a harvest festival at the end of summer, and was often celebrated in each community with a bonfire to ward off the evil spirits. Children would go from door to door in disguise as creatures from the underworld to collect treats, mainly fruit, nuts and the like for the festivities. These were used for playing traditional games like eating an apple on a string or bobbing for apples and other gifts in a basin of water, without using your hands. Salt might be sprinkled on the visiting children to ward off evil spirits. Carving turnips as ghoulish faces to hold candles became a popular part of the festival, which has been adapted to carving pumpkins in America.
In times past a refusal to give something when requested during trick or treating may have resulted in some prank, which was not always carried out in a spirit of good fun. Tossing eggs or flour at the house, or soaping windows, were common pranks. In most places today the trick aspect of trick or treating now survives more as a ritual than any real threat.
In Scotland and England the tradition of singing or other entertainment in return for the gifts collected was more common than the threat of a trick if nothing was given as a treat.
From the distant origin of Halloween as a pagan festival, today it is just about having fun.
Discover more about the history of Halloween at Wikipedia.