In those celebrations, it’s widely believed the participants were asked to sing a song or tell a joke ... might be common in St. Louis due to the city’s influence on Irish immigrants. “There was a ...

Irish immigrants brought this tradition to America ... Children and beggars would knock on doors, sing “souling” songs, and ...

Hajela writes about the ways in which America is changing as part of the AP's Trends+Culture team. She is based in New York City.