One of the great thrills of childhood is dressing up in a costume, going out after dark, and trick-or-treating around the neighborhood. It’s a ritual that every generation of children gets to enjoy, but where does this most beloved of Halloween traditions come from?

People have been trick-or-treating in some form since medieval times. Halloween all started with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, celebrated on the night of October 31st, when the Celts believed the dead returned to earth. Part of this festival in Scotland and Ireland involved guising, where young people would dress in costume and sing a song, tell a joke, or perform some other type of “trick” to get a “treat” in return, such as food or money.

The term trick-or-treating didn’t come into the modern lexicon until much later, but by the 1950s, it was a well-established tradition in America. Nowadays, we just can’t have Halloween without it!

The most popular trick-or-treating giveaways these days are candy, chocolate, and popcorn balls. And while trick-or-treating is mostly for the kids now, the adults can still enjoy their favorite childhood goodies and Halloween festivities this time of year!

Instead of cheap popcorn balls, share some gourmet sweet popcorn with someone who appreciates the flavors of the holiday! Our Delightful Popcorn Gift Box includes three handmade popcorn flavors perfect for fall: Caramel Apple Popcorn, Coconut Cheesecake Popcorn, and White Chocolate Oreo Popcorn. Anyone with a sweet tooth and a love of popcorn will find this the perfect Halloween gift. This is one that will definitely have them saying, “Trick or treat!”