<P> At least as far back as the 15th century, among Christians, there had been a custom of sharing soul cakes at Allhallowtide (October 31 through November 2). People would visit houses and take soul cakes, either as representatives of the dead, or in return for praying for their souls . Later, people went "from parish to parish at Halloween, begging soul - cakes by singing under the windows some such verse as this:' Soul, souls, for a soul - cake; Pray you good mistress, a soul - cake!"' They typically asked for "mercy on all Christian souls for a soul cake". It was known as' Souling' and was recorded in parts of Britain, Flanders, southern Germany and Austria . Shakespeare mentions the practice in his comedy The Two Gentlemen of Verona (1593), when Speed accuses his master of "puling (whimpering or whining) like a beggar at Hallowmas". </P> <P> The wearing of costumes, or "guising", at Hallowmas, had been recorded in Scotland in the 16th century and was later recorded in other parts of Britain and Ireland . There are many references to mumming, guising or souling at Halloween in Britain and Ireland during the late 18th century and the 19th century . In parts of southern Ireland, a man dressed as a Láir Bhán (white mare) led youths house - to - house reciting verses--some of which had pagan overtones--in exchange for food . If the household donated food it could expect good fortune from the' Muck Olla', but if they refused to do so, it would bring misfortune . In Scotland, youths went house - to - house in white with masked, painted or blackened faces, reciting rhymes and often threatening to do mischief if they were not welcomed . In parts of Wales, peasant men went house - to - house dressed as fearsome beings called gwrachod, or presenting themselves as the cenhadon y meirw (representatives of the dead). In western England, mostly in the counties bordering Wales, souling was common . According to one 19th century English writer "parties of children, dressed up in fantastic costume (...) went round to the farm houses and cottages, signing a song, and begging for cakes (spoken of as "soal - cakes"), apples, money, or anything that the goodwives would give them ". </P> <P> Guising at Halloween in Scotland is recorded in 1895, where masqueraders in disguise carrying lanterns made out of scooped out turnips, visit homes to be rewarded with cakes, fruit and money . The practice of guising at Halloween in North America is first recorded in 1911, where a newspaper in Kingston, Ontario, Canada reported children going "guising" around the neighborhood . </P> <P> American historian and author Ruth Edna Kelley of Massachusetts wrote the first book length history of the holiday in the US; The Book of Hallowe'en (1919), and references souling in the chapter "Hallowe'en in America"; "The taste in Hallowe'en festivities now is to study old traditions, and hold a Scotch party, using Burn's poem Hallowe'en as a guide; or to go a-souling as the English used . In short, no custom that was once honored at Hallowe'en is out of fashion now ." Kelley lived in Lynn, Massachusetts, a town with 4,500 Irish immigrants, 1,900 English immigrants, and 700 Scottish immigrants in 1920 . In her book, Kelley touches on customs that arrived from across the Atlantic; "Americans have fostered them, and are making this an occasion something like what it must have been in its best days overseas . All Hallowe'en customs in the United States are borrowed directly or adapted from those of other countries". </P>

What is the origin of trick or treating on halloween