The custom of 'trick or treat' probably has several origins. Again mostly Irish.An old Irish peasant practice called for going door to door to collect money, bread cake, cheese, eggs, butter, nuts, apples, etc., in preparation for the festival of St. Columbus Kill. Yet another custom was the begging for soul cakes, or offerings for one's self - particularly in exchange for promises of prosperity or protection against bad luck. It is with this custom the concept of the fairies came to be incorporated as people used to go door to door begging for treats. Failure to supply the treats would usually result in practical jokes being visited on the owner of the house.

Celebrants of Halloween used to dress themselves up to look like vampires, ghosts, devils and witches. To make such costumes two eyeholes were made on a sheet. People of Scotland and Ireland in 19th century believed that they could fool the spirits pretending that they are also the part of the other world. It could deceive and hoodwink the original spirits when they used to come with the intention of harming others.

But, traditions and beliefs changed a lot in the last decade. People have walked away from the belief of making costumes in the theme of horror. Recently it is seen that on Halloween people dress up as a well known character of a popular TV show or a politician. The theme is changed according to the eventful occurrences of a particular period.

Children in their early teenage years come out of these kind of trick-or-treat traditions and costumes. They grow up and get into the mood of celebrating the Halloween with costume parties and social gatherings.