Halloween Trick or Treat Goodies & Pinata Fillers

Trick or Treat, Smell my Feet, Give me something nice to eat! Although the term "trick or treat" only appeared in print around 1939, and despite popular associations with our American friends acrcoss the Atlantic Ocean, its origins could actually be traced back over 2000 years. Among the Celts - as well as among the Chinese, the Egyptians, and even the Aztecs - it was thought that the spirits of the dead required food and drink. During the festival of Samhain people would leave food outside their houses believing it to placate the spirits of the dead.

As the centuries wore on, people began dressing as these dreadful creatures and performing antics in exchange for offerings of food and drink. This practice, called mumming, evolved into our present trick or treating. To this day, witches, ghosts, and skeleton figures of the dead are among the favorite disguises chosen by Trick or Treaters.

Today children tend to go round their immediate neighbourhood dressed in fancy dress accompanied by parents or chaperons to avoid excessive mischief. Make sure you have a bowl full of little treats to give something to the little monster who pay you a visit. Quite often non-food items such as an inexpensive glow-in-the-dark finger or pop-up eyeball go down very well with both kids and their parents alike.