Serious question, I have no idea. Is there an established tradition, sequence of events, rule?
I just asked some kids, and they said they’d come later and secretly do some trick on me, but they didn’t seem too sure about it either.
This in Europe btw.
But is it ever happening this way?
Do people really answer “trick” when asked?
Or rather anything from “no treat, sorry” to “fuck off you lousy brats”?
How does the ritual continue then? What do the kids answer?
And then, do they vandalize that person’s property, usually, or are there other types of tricks?
Do they do it immediately, or do they circle back later, secretly?
PS: Egging or TPing would require the kids to come prepared for that outcome. That’s another thing I’m wondering about. Do kids really do that these days, if so where.
It used to! Kids would steal wood, break down fences, take outdoor furniture, and use it to build a big bonfire in the center of their towns. They would egg houses and run wild.
Modern trick-or-treating and Halloween parties were invented to counter this destructive behavior, actually. Tasting History did a pretty cool episode on it.
That’s the impression I’m getting overall. From the presumably USian comments - for those that got Halloween via the US, it probably never was.
The video tells an amazing story (starts about 6min in, ends at about 16min in). Apparently Halloween as it was in the 19th century was a mix of traditions from different cultures, partly even the result of culture clash. And the introduction of candy in the early 20th century was aimed at placating the little rowdies, invented by ladies that remind me of the temperance movement.
In light of that we should celebrate kids that still cling to the old ways!
Seriously though, most cultures have traditions of at least one day per year where mischief is allowed, and I like it.
Bonus, from the video:
🔖
You just come back after candy getting hours. Why waste treat time tricking? That’s what sugar rushes are for