Trick or Treat’ night is a term used for Halloween, celebrated worldwide on October 31. Children traditionally dress in costume and go door to door in search of treats, and if denied the treats, according to legend, become little ‘beasts’ and then can use ‘tricks’ to get even with those that refuse to treat them.
Other traditions exist such as costume parties, hayrides, the visiting of haunted houses such as the celebrated house in Anoka, Minnesota, which is also known as the Halloween Capital of the World. In Anoka, the entire city is decorated, and individuals many times decorate their homes and properties. Parades are also held to further celebrate the holiday. These activities started in Anoka in 1920, to prevent the ‘trickery’, a.k.a. vandalism that occurs sometimes during Halloween.
Children that get the chance to enjoy such festivities and dress up repeatedly in glorious costume and who get to go door to door in supervised activities enjoy Halloween much more and of course, do not engage in the ‘trickery’ as often.
Another vibrant display of Halloween partying is the world-renowned New York Village Halloween Parade, which draws tens of thousands per year. Held in Greenwich Village and the roots of this parade are also far reaching. Halloween, began its mythology under the name of ’samhain.’ It was a Pagan festival among the Celtic peoples of Ireland and Great Britain. Irish and Scottish immigrants then transported versions of the tradition to North America in the 19th Century. Halloween now is totally accepted by Americans.
The holiday of Halloween is most common in United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Peru. Parts of Western Europe started celebrating Halloween recently. Increasing popularity of this holiday is evident in Australia and New Zealand.
