The Daily Valet. - 10/31/23, Tuesday
✔️ The Surprising History of Trick or Treating
Tuesday, October 31st Edition
By Cory Ohlendorf, Valet. Editor
Fun fact: I dressed up as Batman for at least three consecutive Halloweens as a kid.
Today’s Big Story
The History of Trick or Treating
From the ancient Celts to early Roman Catholics, the Halloween tradition precedes the costumed kids roaming your block tonight
Do you get trick-or-treaters? I'm in a new building and not sure what the Halloween situation is here, but I've got a stash of mini Kit Kats and Reese's Pieces ready, just in case. And it got me thinking, getting dressed in a costume and setting out on Halloween night to demand treats from relative strangers ... how'd this become a thing? It's been a tradition in the United States and other countries for more than a century, but what are the origins, really?Halloween has its roots in the ancient, pre-Christian Celtic festival of Samhain, which was celebrated on the night of October 31. The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France, believed that the dead returned to earth on Samhain. Along with displaying offerings and lighting bonfires for spirits, the Celts dressed up as the dead, hoping to blend in with real demons and therefore skirt spiritual confrontation.But according to National Geographic, historians say the origins of kids begging their neighbors for food may date back to ancient Celtic celebrations or even a long-lost Christmas custom for All Souls' Day. Poor people would go door-to-door “souling”, visiting the homes of the wealthy, offering to pray for the homeowner's dead loved ones in exchange for “soul cakes”.You might think that this practice then simply migrated along with Europeans to the United States. It was practiced in early 20th century Irish and Scottish immigrant communities, but trick-or-treating didn't really spread until the 1920s and 1930s, while Halloween pranking raged. According to the Smithsonian, the phrase “trick or treat” itself dates back to the 1920s, when Halloween mischief was setting entire cities on edge with vandalism, physical assaults and sporadic acts of violence. Simpler “tricks”—rattling windows and tying doors shut—were often made to look as though supernatural forces had conjured them. Some people offered candy as a way to protect their homes from pranksters, who might wreak havoc by disassembling farm equipment and reassembling it on a rooftop. Some property owners had even begun to fight back and lawmakers encouraged communities to keep children in check with wholesome fun.The outbreak of World War II made trick-or-treating take a backseat, when sugar rationing meant there were few treats to hand out. But by the height of the postwar baby boom, trick-or-treating reclaimed its place among other Halloween customs. It quickly became standard practice for millions of children in America's cities and newly built suburbs. Candy companies capitalized on the lucrative ritual, launching national advertising campaigns spreading word that packaged candy was better and safer than homemade treats. Now, it's the nation's second-largest commercial holiday, and this year, Americans are expected to spend an estimated $3.1 billion on candy alone.
FYI:
National distributor Candy Store says Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are America’s most beloved Halloween candy.
Biden Issues First AI Executive Order
The order is broad, and its focuses range from civil rights and industry regulations to a government hiring spree
On Monday, President Joe Biden signed the most sweeping set of regulatory principles on artificial intelligence in America to date: a lengthy executive order that directs all types of government agencies to make sure America is leading the way in developing the technology while also addressing the many dangers that it poses.According to Gizmodo, the first-of-its-kind executive order marks “a key inflection point in AI regulation,” as lawmakers in governments around the world grapple with how to best prevent harm in the emerging and unpredictable technology. They said that AI experts seemed to be divided on the news: Many expressed cautious optimism, while others dinged the government's approach for relying too heavily on the voluntary good graces of multi-billion dollar tech companies.The Washington Post reports that the sprawling effort marks the American government's most ambitious attempt to spur innovation while addressing concerns that the burgeoning technology could exacerbate bias and discrimination, while displacing workers and undermining national security. “One thing is clear: To realize the promise of AI and avoid the risk, we need to govern this technology,” Biden said during a White House address ahead of the signing.
Dig Deeper:
Wired digs into the bill, which they say, “will drag the U.S. government into the age of ChatGPT.”
Israel Will Press On in Gaza
Israel’s prime minister said that “calls for a cease-fire are calls for Israel to surrender to Hamas”
After a week of bombing that plunged the Gaza Strip into darkness and cut it off from most of the world over the weekend, Israel's military will “continue and intensify” its ground operation in the enclave, a spokesperson said at a news conference Monday. The Israeli military also said it had struck targets belonging to the Hezbollah militants in Lebanon and a military building in Iran-allied Syria.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu forcefully rejected calls for a cease-fire as “calls for Israel to surrender to Hamas, to surrender to terrorism,” telling reporters that Israel was “fighting the enemies of civilization itself.” Even as airstrikes landed near hospitals where thousands of Palestinians are sheltering beside the wounded. Asked about the civilian death toll in Gaza from airstrikes, Netanyahu said that “not a single civilian has to die,” and he accused Hamas of “preventing them from leaving the areas of conflict.”According to the Associated Press, Hamas and other militant groups are believed to be holding some 240 captives, including men, women and children. Netanyahu has faced mounting pressure to secure their release even as Israel acts to crush Hamas and end its 16-year rule over the territory. Hamas, which has released four hostages, has said it would let the others go in return for thousands of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, including many implicated in deadly attacks on Israelis. Israel has dismissed the offer, and Netanyahu said the ground invasion “creates the possibility” of getting the hostages out, adding that Hamas will “only do it under pressure.”
Meanwhile:
U.S. targets in Syria and Iraq have been attacked at least 24 times in the past two weeks, a defense official told NBC News.
The Rise of Horror Movie-Inspired Trips
Some people simply watch scary movies. Others take the show on the road.
Last October, Salem, Massachusetts (site of the notorious witch trials) welcomed more than 900,000 tourists — about 20 times the city's population, according to a U.S. Census estimate. According to the state government, tourism in Salem generates more than $140 million a year in local spending. A lot of visitors wear all black and shop the “haunted” street fair. Others carry brooms or cosplay in head-to-toe Hocus Pocus outfits.But not all spooky season travel is so tame. Thrillist reports on the growing trend of vacations inspired by horror films. And apparently, it's not so niche. A recent TripAdvisor report found that October 31 is the most popular day of the year to check into a hotel in the United States. Halloween in general is popular, so it's no surprise that many Americans tie their travel plans to their love of the weird and creepy.It makes sense: There's an entire genre of horror movies that use the trope of travel gone wrong, says German filmmaker Uwe Boll. And while some tourists choose to visit actual haunted places, like Hill View Manor, while others focus on the sites where popular horror movies were filmed, like Buffalo Bill's lair from Silence of the Lambs. Personally, I like enjoying scary flicks from the safety of my own sofa, so I won't be heading to any of those any time soon.
Meanwhile:
Salem has been so overrun with miniature bottles of alcohol scattered by littering tourists, that it's prompting the Witch City to propose a ban.
In Other News
It’s the last of the three U.S. automakers to settle a costly strike that lasted nearly seven weeks.
Lawyers Will Argue Whether the Constitution’s ‘Insurrection’ Clause Blocks Trump From the 2024 Ballot
Have you heard about ...
Take Care of Your Coat
Be Honest, you don't wash your outerwear as much as you should, do you?
We invest a lot of money into our outerwear. And rightfully so. After all, the better the quality the warmer they tend to keep you. And people see your coat before they see your outfit underneath. But let's be honest ... you've never washed your winter coat have you? And if you were to smell your coat, what do you think it'd smell like?That likely depends on a number of factors—like where you've worn it, how often you wear it and how long you've owned it. But the takeaway is the same: coats are clothes too. And oftentimes, they're expensive garments that deserve to be cared for properly. The problem with not washing your coats, ever, is that the daily dirt and grime eventually builds up, creating a dingy appearance that will, over time, ruin the look of the coat completely. Treat your outerwear well and it will last longer and you'll look better.
Get Started:
Shopping
What We’re Buying
A low sneaker
U.S. Rubber Co. outfitted the American soliders and paved the way for Converse and Vans with their vulcanized sneakers. They're pretty much still made as they were back then—a durable, washable canvas and a vulcanized outsole that's lightweight and flexible.
Get It:
Military low sneaker, $108 / $86 by U.S. Rubber Co.
Morning Motto
Know that it’s a journey.
▾
Follow:
Share today’s motto:
