DES MOINES, Iowa – Children in Des Moines, Iowa, will get to go trick-or-treating on Halloween for the first time since 1938.
Some 86 years ago, Iowa’s capital city took a different approach to celebrating All Hallows’ Eve in hopes of reducing vandalism and promoting more wholesome fun for kids. Instead of going door-to-door for candy on Halloween itself, Des Moines children trick-or-treat on Beggars’ Night, typically the day before Halloween.
And in another fun twist, the kids are expected to tell a joke after they say “trick-or-treat” in order to receive the candy. Initially, children were encouraged to sing a song, recite poetry and offer some other kind of entertainment, but over time a joke became the most common offering.
FILE – Children trick-or-treating (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
This year, officials in Des Moines delayed trick-or-treating by a day because of a severe weather forecast. That children in Des Moines will be able to celebrate Halloween with the rest of America.
“To my knowledge, it has never been moved or canceled since it was established after Halloween in 1938,” Assistant City Manager Jen Schulte told The Associated Press. “However, the safety of our residents, families and children is always our top priority and led to the change in this year’s scheduled Beggars’ Night.”
Many of Des Moines’ suburbs also adopted the Beggars’ Night tradition and chose to shift the celebration to Halloween this year.
