Halloween trick or treating

Trick or Treating

This custom began in Ireland when poor people would use the time of year as an excuse to dress up in scary costumes and knock on the doors of the gentry offering 'protection' in exchange for food. if none was offered a prank was played on them such as breaking a gate or letting chickens out.

Later on it evolved into a mummers ritual where a procession of young men led by one named Lair Bhan (a white mare in Irish folklore), would gather in the name of Muck Olla (a trickster boar, again Irish folklore.) Lair Bhan would be dressed in flowing white robes and a horses head.
The followers would wear whatever costumes they liked and blow cows horns as they went from house to house offering good fortune to those who offered gifts and bad luck and curses to those who did not.

Safety Tips for youngsters trick or treating

Young children should always be accompanied by an adult
Try not to go round in groups of more than five - the householder may be inhibited by groups larger than this
Plan your route ahead of time and stick to it
Dress children in light coloured clothing or costumes
Make sure the costumes finish above ankle level to avoid trips
Try to avoid children having to carry any extra bits and pieces for their costumes
Don't dress them in masks, put makeup on their faces instead. (See makeup tips)
Give each child an easy to carry basket or carrier to put their treats in
If you go out in the evening or in darkness, give each child a torch and perhaps sew or stick some reflective strips onto their costumes
Only visit well lit houses, preferably those that are decorated in a Halloween theme themselves, as they are more likely to welcome trick or treaters
Avoid dogs which even if they are normally friendly, may be 'spooked' by the strange costumes!
Make sure children are polite at all times even if refused a treat
Make sure that tricks are not cruel or abusive
Don't let children actually enter any houses, the doorstep is far enough.

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DON'T FORGET to visit the All Info About Family Science site where they have some fabulous, award winning information on Pumpkins,and the Family Screen Scene site where you can find all kinds of fun things to do with Halloween.


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