It’s almost that time of year again, when you either want to hide behind closed doors in fear, or be out with your friends dressed up as scary as you possibly can be, trick or treating at your neighbours houses. Yes, it’s almost Halloween.
So where did the connection come from? Well it’s origins come from a ninth century custom called ‘Souling’. On All Souls’ Eve (1st November), beggers would walk from village to village, begging for ‘soul cakes’.
The villagers would give the beggars these cakes on the understanding that they would say prayers on behalf of the villagers’ dead relatives on All Souls’ Day (2nd November).
This practice – minus the prayers and with the twist of the trick for uncooperative neighbours, eventually became part of the ritual of Halloween as we know it today.