Halloween is considered to be one of the most changing holidays, as its roots are completely different from what it has become today. The 2nd century B.C.E marked the beginning of Halloween’s history when the Irish and Scottish believed that there was a barrier between Earth and spirits. This barrier was believed to have become softer on November 1st, allowing the dead spirits and demons to roam the Earth. On this day, the living would dress up as the dead to “blend in,” allowing them to stay safe from demons, which is where the idea of costumes was derived from. In the 7th century, the holiday was changed by the Catholics to produce a more holy approach to the holiday by making it known as All Saints Day, bringing the focus to the spirits of saints. As centuries passed, the traditions of this pagan holiday began to change and imitate modern day pop culture, differing from traditional haunted ideas.
As centuries continued to progress, the idea of trick or treating came about. However, it did not begin as an innocent tradition of children collecting candy. The phrase “trick or treat” began in the 1920s and was taken with a more literal approach. Children would dress up in costumes and ask for candy; however, if they did not receive some form of candy, they would rebel, choosing the trick part of the phrase. This generation of trick-or-treating came to an end quickly when World War II brought a sugar shortage. Soon after the war ended, trick-or-treating came back better than ever, as the trick aspect of the phrase was no longer the more dominant idea. This stage in the holiday’s development has allowed for additional changes to Halloween traditions.
Concerns of tampering with candy and increasing crime rates had become widespread among many participants and their parents. This largely affected urban populations, ultimately causing a fall in participation, leading to a decrease in its popularity. By the 20th century, there was an increasing development in children’s costumes. Observations have been made that the variety of children’s Halloween costumes throughout the years has increased. In the early days of the Halloween tradition, children wore much more traditional costumes, such as ghosts and vampires. Fast forward to the 21st century, and children’s costumes seem to have evolved as the media and entertainment industry has developed. With the development of colored movies, entertainment has become more and more popular, leading to an increase in the variety of types of costumes. Overall, the roots of Halloween traditions have been modified over the years to fit into modern standards.