Yeah, that's why I didn't include number 2 in the pics. I figured I had been romping on the Mittster enough in the politics thread.
*puts on glasses and clears throat*
I can clear this up for you, suge!
In short...
The "Modern" tradition of trick or treating and costumes was institutionalized mainly by the government around the 1950's because teenagers made it a habit of "tricking", or playing serious pranks in the Halloween season. The pranks weren't always innocently toilet papering people's trees, some of them mushroomed into serious dangers and massive money-sinks and inconveniences. To keep the kids out of trouble, the candy-and-costume "norm" was established, and quickly adopted by stores as another way to maximize seasonal profits by selling pre-made costumes and other Halloween themed paraphernalia. So much like Christmas originally started as something pagan and was eventually adopted and commercialized for profit, as was Halloween.
http://www.pumpkinpatchesandmore.org/halloweenhistory.php
Hope this helps, dear.
. 
Umm, okay
this!
