[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Trick or Treat began with the Celtic tradition of celebrating the end of the year by dressing up as evil spirits. The Celts believed that, as we moved from one year to the next, the dead and the living would overlap, and demons would roam the earth again. So dressing up as demons was a defense mechanism. If you encountered a real demon roaming the Earth, they would think you were one of them. Fast forward to the Catholic Church who put their own spin on the ritual. They turned the demon dress-up party into “All Hallows Eve,” “All Soul’s Day,” and “All Saints Day” and had people dress up as saints, angels and still a few demons. . This event was devised so that beggars could go around asking for food, usually barley or oat cakes, in exchange for prayers. The Catholic church said the prayers were an extra bit of “insurance” that a dead person’s spirit would be given entry into heaven. Soul Cake day is no longer in common practice in England, but it is still rather popular in Scotland and Ireland and from this, it is believed, the concept of trick or treat arose.

Trick or treating didn’t start happening in America until sometime in the early part of the 20th century. It was first found in magazines and papers in the latter part of the 1930’s. Throughout the 1940’s trick or treat started to get into full swing due to many of the children’s books and TV shows. In 1952, Walt Disney permanently burned it into the minds and hearts of America when his cartoon, Trick or Treat debuted. Trick or treat was here to stay. Trick or treating became more widely practiced throughout the 20th century. In recent years many people have started to have issues with the “trick” bit. The original idea was that if you did not give a “treat” to the trick or treaters they would then play a “trick” on you. While egging house or car windows or papering someone’s house or tree could be considered harmless fun, the increase of vandalism for the sake of the “trick” has caused trick or treating to actually be banned in some areas. For those who still like to dress in costume in pursuit of candy you’ve got lots of opportunities to do so, as communities all over the Miami Valley each choose their own night to celebrate. As best we know, here’s where you’ll be welcome at strangers doors:

Saturday 10/25

Clark County Trick or Treat
Enon Trick or Treat
New Carlisle Trick or Treat
Hauntfest on 5th (Oregon District Party)
South Vienna Trick or Treat
Springfield Trick or Treat

Sunday 10/26

Arcanum Trick or Treat
Jackson Center Trick or Treat

Wed, 10/29

Beavercreek Nazarene – Hall-o-fun-a-weenie

Thurs, 10/30

Anna Trick or Treat
Bellbrook Trick of Treat
Bethel Township Beggar’s Night
Brookville Trick or Treat
Cedarville Trick or Treat
Covington Trick or Treat
Franklin Trick or Treat
Germantown Trick or Treat
Middletown Trick or Treat
New Bremen Trick or Treat
Piqua Trick or Treat
Scene75 HalloScene Indoor Trick or Treat
Sugarcreek Township Beggar’s Night
Tipp City Trick or Treat
Town & Country Halloween Spooktacular
Troy Trick or Treat
Urbana Trick or Treat
Vandalia Trick or Treat
West Alexandria Trick or Treat
West Milton Trick or Treat
Wilmington Trick or Treat

Fri, 10/31

Beavercreek Trick or Treat
Beavercreek Township Beggar’s Night
Butler Township Beggar’s Night
Centerville Trick or Treat
Clearcreek Township Beggar’s Night
Dayton – City of Dayton Trick or Treat
Englewood Trick or Treat
Fairborn Trick or Treat
Huber Heights Trick or Treat
Kettering Trick or Treat
Lebanon Trick and Treat
Madison Township Trick or Treat
Miami Township Beggar’s Night
Miamisburg Trick or Treat
Moraine Trick or Treat
Oakwood Trick or Treat
Riverside Ohio Trick or Treat
Springboro Ohio Trick or Treat
Trotwood Trick or Treat
Union Trick or Treat
Washington Township Beggar’s Night
Waynesville Trick or Treat
West Carrollton Trick or Treat
Xenia Township Beggar’s Night
Xenia Trick or Treat
Yellow Springs Trick or Treat