Why do people trick-or-treat on Halloween?

The wearing of scary costumes can be traced back to Celtic times. October 31 once marked the Celtic new year and was believed to be a time when spirits of the dead could come back and possess the living. In order to avoid being possessed, people would don scary costumes in an effort to ward off the spirits. And the people offered treats to the ghouls to appease them.

The traditions were later adapted by the Romans and the Christians. In fact, the name Halloween derives from Hallow�s Eve, the night before Hallow�s Day (also known as All Saints� Day) on 1 November when the dead cannot rise.

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