part of the halloween is halloween costume. the practice of dressing up in costumes and begging door to door for treats on holiday treating resemble the late medieval practice of "souling" when poor folk would go door to door on hallowmas receiving food in return for prayers for dead on all souls day It originated in Ireland and britain although similar practices for souls of the dead were found as far south as italy shakespeare mention the practice in his comedy The two gentleman of verona when speed accuses his master of "pulling whimpering.whining like a beggar at hallowmas