All Hallow's Read: A (new) old tradition by Neil Gaiman
All Hallow’s Read is a Hallowe’en tradition. It’s simply that in the week of Hallowe’en, or on the night itself, you give someone a scary book. Not instead of candy, oh no, candy stays, but in addition to all the Trick or Treating, give someone a scary book.
Scholars have traced its origins as far back as this blog post.