The idea of “bribing” mischievous spirits with sweets is not new. In the Middle Ages, Scandinavians used to put out bowls of milk or cream to appease the mischievous little woodland imps (elfs, nissi, whatever they were), to cite just one example.
Heretic!! Heretic!! Burn the witch! . . . But not on Halloween, that’s when it’s orthodox to be one.