The History of Halloween Trick-or-Treating:
Spooks and goblins, or trick or treating, goes back to the 7th or 8th century BC. The change of season from summer to winter was celebrated by the Celts with the Samhain festival, a pagan worship celebration marking the change in the season from summer to winter. The Celts paid worship to pagan gods by giving thanks and sacrifice. Out of fear of the power of the gods, the worshipers wore disguises and masks to remain unidentifiable hoping to chase away spirits and avoid any trickery the gods might inflict upon them. As it was believed that the souls of the dead roamed the earth during this time of the year, the Celts left food for them hoping to appease them and keep them from haunting the living. In the 8th century AD, All Saint’s Day which was celebrated by Christians was merged with the observance of Samhain to create one holiday. Protestants opposed the holiday believing it was too pagan, while the Irish immigrants to the United States in the 19th century contributed to culture with their enthusiasm for wearing costumes to celebrate. Today Halloween has evolved into a secular tradition filled with costumes, decorations, themes of horror and death, spirits, cute and scary pumpkins, trick-or-treating, and parties for all ages. For the more spiritual, those who attend church recognize Halloween as a “hallowed eve”, or a holy night before the celebration of the remembrance of the dead. All Soul’s Day on November 1, to remember those who have died, and All Saints Day, on November 2 to honor the saints in heaven.
The Halloween holiday has evolved the last century to one of giving treats rather than one of trickery. Observing the practice of giving treats or tricking people started as early as the 1920’s in the United States. Children in disguises went in groups door-to-door asking for a trick or a treat. Tricking a homeowner would mean the group of children would do a prank on the homeowner’s property or rob the homeowner. If the homeowner chose not to be tricked, the children received a treat. The goal was to end the evening having received many treats. By the 1950’s trick-or-treating became an established custom for children to dress up and go door-to-door asking for tricks or treats. It wasn’t until the 1970’s that the phrase ‘trick-or-treat’ became official. Today children still go door-to-door in safe neighborhoods, while many local children’s events offer group venues for children to safely go trick-or-treating. The tricks associated with the holiday can now be found at haunted houses and house parties with scary moments and surprises. For the most part, the holiday is one of dressing up in creative costumes and giving treats of candy and simple toy gifts to children. Adults also look forward to dressing up for holiday Halloween parties where they too can celebrate and enjoy food, candy, and spirited drinks.
As you get your costume together for you or your children this Halloween, don’t forget to wear your mask and bring your hand sanitizer! The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises that standard costume masks may not be thick enough for COVID-19 disease control. It is also advised not to wear a mask under or over a costume mask as it could be too thick for breathing. The trick is taking time to adjust costume masks to comply with COVID-19 precautions to ensure it does not overly restrict breathing. Those planning to hand out candy should consider drive-by, drive-way tables where cars can line up to gather candy from. Outdoor scavenger hunts or other activities which maintain 6 feet of social distancing are also recommended. Don’t be scared! Enjoy gobblin’ candy and Happy Halloween!
Here is a List of Halloween Candy Ideas!
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CHOCOLATE
If you are looking for fun, creative options for Halloween chocolate candy and packaging, take a look at this list. Hershey’s has bulk chocolate candies in a variety of shapes, flavors, and packaging perfect for handing out to trick-or-treaters or to fill a candy bowl at your Halloween party!
Hershey’s Glow in the Dark Halloween Chocolate Candy
Glow in the Dark Snack Size Halloween Chocolate Candy
Assortment 3 Pack
Includes: Kit Kat (9.8 oz), Hershey’s Milk Chocolate (9.45 oz), Reese’s (9.35 oz)
Glow in the Dark Wrapped Variety Mix
150 count assortment pieces
43.28 oz bag of Hershey’s, Kit Kat, and Reese’s
Hershey’s Chocolate Pumpkins, White Chocolate Ghosts, and Chocolate Bats
Hershey’s Reese’s Peanut Butter Candy
Chocolate Pumpkins, White Chocolate Ghosts, and Chocolate Bats
10.2 oz each snack candy bags
Includes: 1 White Chocolate Reeses Peanut Butter Ghosts (10.2 oz),
1 Reeses Chocolate Pumpkins (10.2 oz), 1 Reeses Chocolate Bats (10.2 oz)
Hershey’s Kit Kat Decorated Foil Halloween Candy
Kit Kat Halloween Miniatures
Kit Kat Halloween Chocolate Candy, Spooky Miniatures
36 oz bulk candy
36 oz bag of individually wrapped Kit Kat Miniatures
Crispy wafers covered in smooth milk chocolate
Specially wrapped in Halloween-themed ghost, skeleton, and sheriff foils
Hershey’s Miniature Assortment Bulk Bags
Hershey’s Dark Chocolate Miniature Bars
Includes: Dark chocolate
3 lb bag
Hershey’s Miniatures Chocolate Candy Snack Size Assortment
Includes: Hershey’s Milk Chocolate, Krackel, and Mr. Goodbar
56 oz bag
Hershey’ Nuggets Halloween Candy, Assorted Chocolate
Includes: Milk chocolate, Milk chocolate with almonds,
Special dark, mildly sweet chocolate with almonds, Extra creamy milk chocolate
with toffee and almonds
31.5 oz bag
CANDY CORN
Candy corn—an all time favorite classic candy of Halloween is available in a variety of flavors. Try seasonal flavors of caramel apple, apple pie, pumpkin pie or select from non-traditional candy corn colors to add color variety to match party themes!
Candy Retailer Caramel Apple Candy Corn
Color: red, white, and brown
Carmel apple flavor
1 lb bag
Zachary Patriotic Candy Corn
Color: red, white, and blue
Raspberry lemonade flavor
1 lb bag
Brach’s Apple Pie & Pumpkin Pie Flavored Halloween/Fall Candy
Color: Orange and white, brown and white
Apple pie and pumpkin flavor mixed bag
5 oz bag
Indian Candy Corn
Color: brown, orange, white
1 lb bag
Candy Retailer Candy Corn
Color: yellow, orange and white
Traditional candy corn
1 lb bag
Autumn Mix Mellocreme Mix Fall Halloween Candy Mix
Mix of traditional candy corn, Indian candy corn and pumpkin candy
1 lb bag
HALLOWEEN MARSHMALLOWS
Marshmallows for Halloween? Send chills up your neighbors’ spines with how creative you are! These snackable flavors of marshmallows are a healthier option than many candy bars and are a unique treat to hand out.
SmashMallow Fun Size Variety Pack
30 Individual Treats
30 individually-wrapped snackable Marshmallows Assorted Flavors
Flavors: Cinnamon Churro, Mint Chocolate Chip, Strawberries & Cream, Cookie Dough
Non-GMO, Organic Cane Sugar
25 calories each
HEALTHY HALLOWEEN TREATS
Show your thoughtfulness and creativeness by offering healthy Halloween treats as an alternative to candy. Pretzels, chips, or other snack options are perfect for those with special dietary needs.
Utz Halloween Shaped Pretzel Treat Barrels
70 count, 35 oz (2 lb 3 oz) individual 0.5 oz bags
Snack-sized individually packaged pretzels shaped as pumpkins and bats
Halloween Garden Veggie Ghost and Bat Chips
40 count, 20 individual 0.75 oz bags
Sea salt, garden veggie chip shapes of ghosts and bats
Made with garden-grown potatoes and vegetables
Non-GMO, vegan, gluten free, no artificial flavors, colors or additives
HEALTHY TREATS
More Halloween Snack Options
Fruit snacks, rice crisps, organic lollipops and gummi bears, crackers, and healthy food bars
Dairy-free, organic, and non-GMO options
Welch’s Fruit Snacks, Berries ‘n Cherries
40 count, 0.9 oz bags
Gluten free
YumEarth Gluten Free Gummy Bears, Assorted Flavors
43 pack, 0.7 oz bags
Allergy friendly, non-GMO, no artificial flavors, organic ingredients
Quaker Popped Gluten Free Rice Crisps Variety Packs
30 count, 0.67 oz bags
Gluten free, Made with corn and whole grain brown rice
Flavors: Sweet BBQ, Cheddar, Buttermilk Ranch
YumEarth Organic Lollipops, Variety Pack
50 lollipops, 10.9 oz
Organic, allergy friendly, non-GMO, gluten Free, vegan
Flavors: Pomegranate Pucker, Wet-Face Watermelon, Strawberry Smash, Googly Grape,
Very Very Cherry, Perfectly Peach, Razzmatazz Berry, Mango Tango
Black Forest Organic Gummy Bears Candy
65 count, 0.8 oz bag
Organic, gluten-free, fat-free
Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Classic Mix Crackers
30 count bags
Flavors: Goldfish Colors, Goldfish Cheddar, Goldfish Pretzel
10 single-serving packs of Goldfish Colors (0.9 oz bag),
12 packs of Goldfish Cheddar (1 oz bags) and 8 packs of Goldfish Pretzel (1 oz bags)
Annie’s Organic Halloween Bunny Grahams
22 count, 0.4 oz individual bags
Orange and brown Halloween bunny grahams
Organic wheat flour, non-GMO,
No artificial flavors, synthetic colors or synthetic preservatives,
No high-fructose corn syrup
CraveBox Healthy Care Package
30 count
Natural Food Bars Nuts Fruit Health Nutritious Snacks
Variety Gift Box Pack Assortment Basket Bundle Mix Sampler
Sweet and savory selections of nuts, fruit chews, bars, popcorn, veggie chips
Interested in reading more about Halloween Trick-or-Treating?
Trick or Treat: A History of Halloween [Hardcover]
by Lisa Morton
Shop Halloween COVID Items…
Halloween Hand Sanitizer Holders – 6 sets
6 Sets Halloween Silicone Hand Cleaner Holders
Pumpkin Empty Travel Keychain Carriers with Hand Refillable Bottles Portable Plastic Leak Proof Liquid Soap Bottles for Travel Daily Use, Kids Gifts
Halloween COVID Signs and Masks
Shop a variety of COVID signs and Trick-or-Treat masks
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