Of all the traditions in the UK, trick or treating may be the most fun! But where did this Halloween activity come from? In this blog, we uncover a few spooky surprises about Halloween trick or treating, so when you head out with the kids this Halloween, you can share a fun fact about where it all began.
Traditional Roots in Samhain
Samhain, pronounced sow-ain, was an ancient Celtic festival that took place over 2,000 years ago, one of the oldest in British history. The Celts held strong beliefs that Samhain marked a day in the calendar when the human and spirit realms could easily communicate.
For the festival, the Celts would build bonfires, wear interesting costumes and await spirits that had passed. It was also traditional to tell the fortune of others during this festival, a Halloween activity many people still practice today through tarot cards, palm reading and crystal balls.
Food offerings were also left outside homes as gifts to wandering spirits, an early hint of the “treat” part of trick or treating. This blending of fear and generosity is one of the reasons Halloween has always had both a spooky and celebratory atmosphere.
Where Did the Name Halloween Come From?
When the Romans conquered Europe, Samhain festivals were blended with new Christian beliefs. The Christian festival of All Saints, otherwise known as All Hallows, rose in popularity. The night before was named All Hallows Eve which is where the modern Halloween comes from.
Over time, many of the old Celtic traditions were reshaped into Christian customs, but the idea of remembering the dead and marking the change of the seasons continued to influence how communities celebrated.
Medieval England and Door Knocking on Hallows Eve
In medieval England, the practice of knocking on doors the night before All Hallows began but instead of asking for sweets, children and poorer members of the community would offer to pray for the souls of the dead.
In return, they were often given soul cakes, which is a curious name given to small spiced buns marked with a cross. This was known as souling and is seen by many historians as one of the earliest forms of trick or treating.
Soul cakes were not brightly coloured or wrapped in foil, but the exchange of food for a doorstep visit turned into a Halloween tradition.
Victorian Halloween Sweets
By the Victorian era, Halloween celebrations had become more playful than solemn, and sweets were starting to play a bigger role.
Instead of the simple soul cakes of medieval times, children might be given homemade toffees, sugar-coated nuts, gingerbread, and boiled sweets wrapped in twists of paper.
Apple treats were also popular, from toffee apples to candied slices, reflecting the harvest season. These Victorian favourites laid the foundations for the sugary delights we now associate with Halloween, blending old traditions of sharing food with the growing popularity of sweet confections.
Victorians also loved Halloween parlour games, from snap-apple (trying to bite apples dangling on strings) to fortune-telling with nuts and sweets, adding a playful twist to the evening.
These sugary traditions were the early beginnings of the Halloween goodies we can’t imagine the night without today.
Halloween Arrives in America
When Irish and Scottish immigrants arrived in America, they carried their traditions with them to the North in the 19th century.
From pumpkin carving, ghost stories and souling, by the early 20th century, many American communities had embraced Halloween as a family friendly event.
Halloween costumes started to become more of a focus, games such as apple bobbing were played, and children expected small treats when they knocked at a door. The phrase trick or treat was first recorded in the 1920s and by the 1950s it had spread across America!
With the growth of mass-produced sweets and chocolate, Halloween quickly became commercialised, and children began to expect wrapped sweets instead of homemade bakes. This shift helped create the colourful, sugary Halloween we know today.
The Halloween Sweets We Know Today
By the 20th century the tradition had crossed back over the Atlantic to the UK. Many shops began to stock exclusive Halloween themed sweets and parents encouraged children to enjoy the excitement of dressing up, carving pumpkins and collecting treats.
Instead of soul cakes, children started to be given chewy sweets, fruity lollipops and brightly coloured jellies on Halloween when they knocked on doors.
If you are stocking up for little monsters knocking at your door, check out our variety of Halloween sweets. From Gummy Bones to Bulgari Pumpkin Mallows and sour Brain Lickers, we have everything you need for a spook-tacular evening!
The Joys of Sharing Sweet Treats on Halloween
Giving and receiving sweets may seem like a simple exchange but it carries a deeper meaning. When neighbours open their doors with a smile and offer a handful of treats, they are taking part in a tradition that has been building for centuries.
Today in the UK, Halloween has grown into more than just one night of trick or treating – it’s become a whole season of spooky fun. From themed parties and pumpkin festivals to school discos and community events, families now enjoy Halloween over several days, making the sharing of sweets an even bigger and more memorable tradition.
Shops, schools and communities often decorate weeks in advance, and many towns host ghost walks or light trails, showing how Halloween has become a staple of autumn.
Trick or treating may only last a night, but the excitement builds long before, turning October into a month of costumes, sweets and seasonal celebrations.
From Ancient Ritual to Modern Fun
What started as an ancient ritual rooted in Celtic beliefs grew into souling in medieval England, adapted into a full community celebration in America and eventually returned to the UK as the sweet filled Halloween night we know today.
Halloween is the perfect excuse to indulge in a little spooky fun, and whether you are heading out with the children or staying in to welcome trick or treaters, having the right sweets on hand makes the night even more magical.
Browse our Halloween collection at Sweets Direct and fill your cauldron with treats that will make your door the most popular stop on the street.