T H E R E A L I ST
UNCOMMON KNOWLED GE FOR MODERN TIME S
S T Y L I N G BY B L A K E R A M S E Y
THE FUN-SIZE ANSWER:
WHY DO WE TRICKOR-TREAT? Written by Brandi Broxson Photograph by Danny Kim
Because candy is an excellent bribe for warding off mischief. The longer story: In the mid-19th century, Irish immigrants to North America brought with them the Gaelic celebration of All Hallows’ Eve, replete with trick playing and fortune telling. Lisa Morton, the author of Trick or Treat: A History of Halloween, says that,
OCTOBER 2016
back then, the pranks were mild: “Shop signs were switched, gates disassembled, and flourfilled socks were flung at those wearing black coats.” But over time the mischief evolved into straight-up vandalism, and people often awoke on November 1 to broken windows or even blazing
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fires. At the height of the Great Depression, some cities considered banning the holiday. But a few, like Chicago, had a better idea—to busy the idle hands of potential troublemakers with festivities and encourage homeowners to do the same. Because money was scarce, families often held “house-to-house parties,” which kept the children moving door to door for a different entertainment or treat. Ring a bell?
DIY HALLOWEEN CANDY PAILS
Nix the plastic pumpkin variety and try one of the five sweet tote ideas at realsimple. com/treat.
