It’s only considered Halloween when people wear scary costumes, place carved pumpkins in their yards, and go trick-or-treating. For kids, trick-or-treating is the most popular activity during Halloween because they can devour as much candy as possible. According to Forbes, about 600 million pounds of candy are sold every Halloween. In 2023, that figure was estimated to be about $12.2 billion. So, what does candy have to do with warding off evil spirits and honoring the dead? Surprisingly, it’s all to do with Halloween’s history; the two never co-existed.
The Origin of Halloween
Before looking at why candies are a must-have during Halloween, let’s first look at the festival’s brief history. Halloween originated with pagan Celtics in Ireland. It was a celebration called Samhain that was held towards the end of the harvest season, a time when the barrier between the spirit world and the real world was thin.
When Christianity was introduced in Ireland, most of their festivals were rebranded to fit in with Christian values. That included All Hallow’s Eve, which we know as Halloween, All Saint’s Day, and All Soul’s Day.
Amidst the mentioned changes, soul cakes were introduced to celebrate a tradition called souling. Here, people would visit the homes of the wealthy, pray for their deceased relatives, and get soul cakes as a token of appreciation. This was also when kids started visiting homes to sing, tell jokes, and get other sweet treats.
The Evolution of Halloween
During the 1800s, many Scottish and Irish people migrated to the US and with them came the tradition we all know as Halloween. Being introduced to a new culture, the changes were a bit drastic. On Halloween, people would throw parties and the teenagers would go around playing pranks. This gave birth to trick-or-treating. However, during this stage, candy was still not an option. Homeowners would provide these kids with baked goods, fruits, and sometimes money.
Still, in the 1930s, Halloween was a chaotic holiday. As expected with kids, the pranks became even more chaotic. Houses would be destroyed or burnt, and even cars on the streets would be overturned. Things worsened during the era of the Great Depression.
In 1933, the authorities contemplated banning the entire holiday altogether. However, some cities developed an alternative method of dealing with these children. They held costume-themed parties, providing them with games and offering more pleasant treats.
It was at this time that the idea of moving house to house trick-or-treating was introduced. It aimed to share the burden of the holiday because the economy was in shambles, and most people couldn’t afford to offer the entire Halloween package. So, some homeowners gave out masks, treats, and anything else needed.
The Introduction of Candies To Halloween Celebrations
After a while, candy companies became more innovative with their marketing approach. They started targeting holidays, with the first options being Christmas and Easter. It took until around the 1950s for the manufacturers to fully invest in Halloween.
Homeowners and suburban wives were pleased with the introduction of candy. Instead of baking cakes and treats for Halloween, they would head over to the store, buy enough candy, and give it to the kids who would come knocking later on.
It wasn’t so hard for most moms to buy into the idea of store-bought candy because the World Wars had changed how people perceived processed foods and snacks. Kids loved processed candy more than home-baked treats. Therefore, it was a win-win scenario for all the three parties.
Why Are Candies Popular on Halloween Today?
The other reason store-bought candy is so popular in today’s Halloween parties is because of an incident in 1974 where it was alleged that a child died after consuming a poisoned piece of Pixy Stick candy. This raised fear around homemade treats. However, it was later discovered that the boy’s dad was behind the entire thing.
For safety, kids were advised only to eat store-bought candy. Also, homeowners who feared poisoning other people’s kids with their recipes switched to store-bought candy. Today, it’s rare to find homeowners preparing treats to hand out to trick-or-treaters unless they know the kids personally. Not to mention, store-bought candy has been packaged. So, if it’s altered, a kid should know by looking at the wrapper.
By the look of things, candy will always be a part of Halloween. Even during the Covid-19 pandemic, kids and parents became creative with trick-or-treating. The event was hosted in zoos and parks with a lot of fresh air, and social distancing was enforced. In some places, they practiced drive-by-trick or treating. Homeowners would leave candy at the end of the driveway, and people would pick it up from there.
As we wrap up, parents need to be aware of the dangers of sugar in candy. It harms teeth, and on special days such as Halloween, parents must ensure their kids do not consume excess candy and brush and floss their teeth after eating.