Halloween - eve of the Catholic All Saints' Day . Basic Halloween tradition evolved in the XIX century in the United States . Begging for sweets began to spread in North America in the late 1950s . Children dress up in fancy costumes and go from house to house, knocking on doors . When they open , they ask : " Prank or candy ? " . The landlord must give them candy or other sweets, or they can play a trick on him . Attitude towards this tradition people have different . Somebody did not take part in it, someone just puts pots with candy on the porch , that children are not called at the door and take your weaknesses themselves .