Halloween gifts in North and South America

In England on All Soul's Day on November 2, a parade would be marched through the streets and people would give food and soul cakes to the poor in return for prayers for their dead family members. Immigrants who came to the U.S. and Canada from Ireland and England continued their traditions by going from door to door asking for food or money. This is one version of the origins of trick or treating. Trick or treating could have also originated from children going to all houses in the town to collect firewood for a big bonfire to scare the spirits away. The "trick" part of trick or treat is thought to have come from Celtic fairy tales and mischievous creatures. During the Celtic New Year, people would also drink alcohol and usually ended up in trouble. In early 20th century U.S. vandalism plagued Halloween which town leaders were trying to prevent. Families could prevent a trick being played on them by giving children sweets.

In Mexico, Central and South America, they celebrate All Saints Day and All Soul's Day on November 1 and 2. However, their ideology of honoring the dead is quite different from that perceived by the Celtic population. The religious holidays of All Saints Day and All Soul's Day which was brought by the Spanish to this area, has mixed with the Indian population's celebration of ancestors to make up the holiday of Dia de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead). Their customs on this day stem from honoring and respecting their ancestors, rather their fearing the spirits from them as was done by the Druids. On Dia de los Muertos, families prepare special bread and sugar skulls, along with Marigold flowers to take to the gravesite, where families have picnics. These foods and flowers are thought to be gifts to their dead relatives. Children are given sugar skulls as gifts and often have their names on them or names of their dead relatives. Some great photos and a detailed explanation of Dia De Los Muertos can be found at the Culture Planet site at http://www.cultureplanet.com/dayodead.htm .

A couple of great sites for children to know the origins of trick or treating are "How Halloween Works" at http://howstuffworks.lycoszone.com/hallo... , and the History Channel site at http://www.historychannel.com/cgi-bin/fr... .

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