From one subject to another
Do you know about Canada's contribution to Halloween?
The origins of Halloween are still subject to serious debate between Celtic and Christian traditions. However, while it is impossible to trace the origins of the custom, there is some consensus on the evolution of the feast, which since the 2000s has been "the second-most commercially successful holiday in the world behind Christmas" according to the figures for commercial revenue generated.
For example, we know that it was Scottish and Irish immigrants who brought the medieval tradition of door-to-door canvassing on the evening of 31 October and the decoration of ... turnips to America! Indeed, it was not until they settled in North America that the Europeans discovered the considerable advantages of pumpkins when it came to emptying them to make a lantern.
But did you know that another staple of modern Halloween comes directly from Alberta?
In 1927, the community of Blackie, Alberta, recorded the first use of the "trick or treat", which is now repeated by children at every door in the neighbourhood.