Halloween Comes to Canada

Halloween seems like it was around forever. It’s hard to find exactly when Halloween came to Canada or even America for that matter. Since the countries are very close in the geographical sense, it’s hard to estimate what year this celebration began. But there is evidence that Halloween celebrations started about 100 years ago.

   The earliest forms of trick or treat in Canada were found in a Kingston, Ont., newspaper. It reported that it was normal for smaller children to go street guising on Halloween between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m., visiting shops and neighbours to be rewarded with nuts and candies for their rhymes and songs, stated Rogers, Nicholas. Coming Over: Halloween in North America. Halloween: From Pagan Ritual to Party Night.

   Most people by now know about the legends of Halloween but many are unfamiliar it traditions of modern Halloween and where theses traditions really started and when.

    In accordance facts early American settlers came from England, and they brought various beliefs about ghosts and witches with them.

  In the 1800s, many immigrants from Ireland and Scotland arrived in the United States and introduced their Halloween traditions. It can only be assumed that the immigrants who came to Canada also introduced the same traditions at this time or shortly after.

   Other groups added their own cultural influences to Halloween customs. German immigrants brought vivid witchcraft lore, and Haitian and African peoples brought their native voodoo beliefs about black cats, fire, and witchcraft.

   In the early 1900s, Halloween became a celebration for children more than adults. Towns and cities began hosting large community Halloween celebrations, parades, and parties. Trick-or-treating became widespread during the 1940s and 1950s.

   During The Second World War, there was a stop to Halloween candy because of the scarceness of sugar for the war effect. Rationing began in April 1942 and ended June 1947.

   By the late 1900s, Halloween had become one of the most profitable holidays for Canada and American business. Halloween celebrations among adults have also become increasingly popular.

   Many adults wear a costume to work on Halloween. Others attend private costume parties or Halloween events held at nightclubs, hotels, or restaurants.

   The earliest known of trick or treat comes from "Trick or Treat' Is Demand," from the Herald in Lethbridge, Alta., Nov. 4, 1927.

   Hallowe’en provided an opportunity for real strenuous fun. No real damage was done except to the temper of some who had to hunt for wagon wheels, gates, wagons, barrels, etc., much of which decorated the front street. The youthful tormentors were at back door and front demanding edible plunder by the word “trick or treat” to which the inmates gladly responded and sent the robbers away rejoicing.

   Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) started as a local event in a Northeast Philadelphia neighbourhood in 1950 and expanded nationally in 1952. The program involves the distribution of small boxes by schools to trick-or-treaters, in which they solicited small-change donations from the houses they visited. It is estimated that children have collected more than $118 million for UNICEF since its inception.

   In Canada, in 2006, UNICEF decided to discontinue their Halloween collection boxes, citing safety and administrative concerns; they instead redesigned, stated Beauchemin, Genevieve; CTV.ca News Staff (2006-05-31). "UNICEF to end Halloween 'orange box' program and ctv.ca. It is estimated that between 1955-2006 Canadian children have collected $96 million.

   Halloween holds many childhood memories for adults. Who can ever forget those legendary words, don’t eat anything until you get all the candy home; in some areas we had to visit the dentist’s home for their version of treats which included a dental kit.

   Unfortunately, in some areas, the trick is to have clean fun and the treat is you come home safe.

Next month will focus on the devotion and service of Canadians in defence of our country and people in need around the world. Remembrance day is a time to reflect on the sacrifice of other Canadians, the advantages which Canadians have been given simply by being Canadian and the history of our service to the world.