Soul Cakes
The soul cake was a precursor of the candy treats given out today on Halloween. Although modern Halloween is celebrated less in England than in the US, the soul cake tradition is associated with old English customs regarding All Saint's Day and All Soul's Day - November 1st and 2nd, the days after Halloween.What Are Soul Cakes?
A soul cake is a small bun often containing fruit and spices. They were originally made in England and each different region has its own traditional recipe. Some are flat and heavy, some light and fluffy. Some are plain, others highly flavoured. In some regions they are even made with a cross on the top in a similar fashion to the hot cross buns of Easter.Around the time of All Souls' Day - including All Hallows' Eve, Halloween - beggars would go round the country asking for food. The home made soul cake was the traditional offering at such a time. There is a tale that each soul cake given to the poor represented the soul of a dead person. The beggar would pray for the soul of the deceased who would then be freed from purgatory and allowed to enter Heaven. It's not clear where this belief originated, it may well simply have been invented by some very clever beggars!
A similar custom involved not beggars but mummers. These were travelling performers who would go round towns and act out topical scenes, often of a religious nature. Around All Souls' Day they would be given soul cakes in payment. The distinction between a beggar and a mummer might be considered mainly a matter of skill.
Today many people like to make or buy soul cakes for their own Halloween parties or other celebrations. Some people also give them to children who are out on a trick or treat session. As such they make a change from the sugary candy normally handed over.