Begging (also known in North America as panhandling) is the practice of imploring others to grant a favor, often a gift of money, with little or no expectation of reciprocation. A person doing such is called a beggar or panhandler. Beggars may operate in public places such as transport routes, urban parks, and markets. Besides money, they may also ask for food, drink, cigarettes or other small items.
Internet begging is the modern practice of asking people to give money to others via the Internet, rather than in person. Internet begging may encompass requests for help meeting basic needs such as medical care and shelter, as well as requests for people to pay for vacations, school trips, and other things that the beggar wants but cannot ostensibly afford.
Beggars differ from religious mendicants in that some mendicants do not ask for money. Their subsistence is reciprocated by providing society with various forms of religious service, moral education, and preservation of culture.
Passersby often prefer to give beggars food or water rather than cash.
History
Beggars have existed in human society since the dawn of recorded history. Street begging has happened in most societies around the world, though its prevalence and exact form vary.
Greece Ancient Greeks distinguished between the (Greek: , "active poor") and the (Greek: , "passive poor"). The was somebody with a job, only not enough to make a living, while the depended on others entirely. The working poor were accorded a higher social status. The New Testament contains several references to Jesus' status as the savior of the , usually translated as "the poor", considered the most wretched portion of society. In the rich man and Lazarus parable, Lazarus is called and presented as living in extreme poverty. () were wandering beggars or alms collectors in ancient Greece, often linked to religious practices and fortune-telling. They were generally seen as disreputable figures, sometimes offering to perform harmful acts for payment or to obtain forgiveness from the gods whom they served for any sins. Their presence extended to Italy with the spread of the cult of Isis, Cybele and other such deities, but Roman law tightly regulated their activities, Romans called them aeruscatores.
Great Britain A Caveat or Warning for Common Cursitors, vulgarly called vagabonds, was first published in 1566 by Thomas Harman. From early modern England, another example is Robert Greene in his coney-catching pamphlets, the titles of which included "The Defence of Conny-catching", in which he argued there were worse crimes to be found among "reputable" people. The Beggar's Opera is a ballad opera in three acts written in 1728 by John Gay. The Life and Adventures of Bampfylde Moore Carew was first published in 1745. There are similar writers for many European countries in the early modern period.
According to Jackson J. Spielvogel, "Poverty was a highly visible problem in the eighteenth century, both in cities and in the countryside... Beggars in Bologna were estimated at 25 percent of the population; in Mainz, figures indicate that 30 percent of the people were beggars or prostitutes... In France and Britain by the end of the century, an estimated 10 percent of the people depended on charity or begging for their food."Jackson J. Spielvogel (2008). "Western Civilization: Since 1500". Cengage Learning. p.566.
The British Poor Laws, dating from the Renaissance, placed various restrictions on begging. At various times, begging was restricted to the disabled. This system developed into the workhouse, a state-operated institution where those unable to obtain other employment were forced to work in often grim conditions in exchange for a small amount of food. The welfare state of the 20th century greatly reduced the number of beggars by directly providing for the necessities of the poor from state funds.
India
Begging is an age-old social phenomenon in India. In the medieval and earlier times begging was considered to be an acceptable occupation which was embraced within the traditional social structure. This system of begging and almsgiving to mendicants and the poor is still widely practiced in India, with over 500,000 beggars in 2015.
In contemporary India, beggars are often stigmatized as undeserving. People often believe that beggars are not destitute and instead call them professional beggars. There is a wide perception of begging scams. This view is refuted by grassroots research organizations such as Aashray Adhikar Abhiyan, which claim that beggars and other homeless people are overwhelmingly destitute and vulnerable. Their studies indicate that 99 percent of men and 97 percent of women resort to beggary due to abject poverty, distress migration from rural villages and the unavailability of employment.
China
Ming dynasty After the establishment of the Ming dynasty, many farmers and unemployed laborers in Beijing were forced to beg to survive. Begging was especially difficult during Ming times due to high taxes that limited the disposable income of most individuals. Beijing's harsh winters were a difficult challenge for beggars. To avoid freezing to death, some beggars paid porters one copper coin to sleep in their warehouse for the night. Others turned to burying themselves in manure and eating arsenic to avoid the pain of the cold. Thousands of beggars died of poison and exposure to the elements every year.
Begging was some people's primary occupation. A Qing dynasty source states that "professional beggars" were not considered to be destitute, and as such were not allowed to receive government relief, such as food rations, clothing, and shelter. Beggars would often perform, or train animals to perform, to earn money from passers-by. Although beggars were of low status in Ming, they were considered to have higher social standing than prostitutes, entertainers, runners, and soldiers.
Some individuals capitalized on beggars and became "Beggar Chiefs". Beggar chiefs provided security in the form of food for beggars and in return received a portion of beggars' daily earnings as tribute. Beggar chiefs would often lend their surplus income back to beggars and charge interest, furthering their subjects' dependence on them to the point of near slavery. Although beggar chiefs could acquire significant wealth, they were still looked upon as low-class citizens. The title of beggar chief was often passed down family lines and could stick with an individual through occupational changes.
Ritualized begging and customs In many cultures, begging is not only an act of individual desperation but is integrated into communal rituals, seasonal cycles, and religious observances. Anthropologists often categorize these practices as "ritualized begging" or "reciprocal exchange", where the seeker provides a spiritual or entertainment-related service (such as prayers, songs, or blessings) in exchange for food, drink, or money. In these contexts, the "beggar" is often not a permanent member of the indigent class but a neighbor or child assuming a temporary ritual role.
Religious and monastic traditions
Many religions have prescribed begging as the primary means of support for certain classes of adherents, including Hinduism, Sufism, Buddhism, and Christianity. In this context, mendicancy typically provides a way for adherents to focus exclusively on spiritual development without the distractions of worldly affairs.
In Dharmic religions, the practice of Bhiksha involves monastics or ascetics seeking alms from laypeople. Unlike secular begging, Bhiksha is viewed as a merit-earning opportunity for the donor, who receives spiritual guidance or blessings in exchange for sustenance. The practitioner is not seen as a "beggar" in a derogatory sense, but as an essential part of the religious ecosystem. In modern Myanmar, Thailand, and Cambodia, householders often provide food to monks daily to gain religious merit.
In the Abrahamic religions, charity and almsgiving are central tenets. Tzedakah in Judaism requires a monetary tithe (often 10% of income) to be given to the poor. In Christianity, the example of Jesus, who encouraged his disciples to "take nothing for their journey", inspired mendicant orders such as the Franciscans and Dominicans.
Historically, religious begging could also lead to significant social mobility. Zhu Yuanzhang, founder of the Ming Dynasty, spent his youth as a mendicant monk begging for food during a famine before rising to power.
Folk and seasonal traditions Aside from permanent religious roles, various cultures maintain seasonal customs involving door-to-door processions where participants solicit rewards in exchange for performances or blessings.
Souling: Historically practiced during Allhallowtide, "souling" involved the poor or children singing "souling songs" and offering prayers for the deceased in exchange for "soul cakes". Wassailing: A Christmas and Twelfth Night custom where wassailers offered a drink from a "wassail bowl" and sang carols to wish health to householders in exchange for food or money. Heischebrauch: A German term for "petitioning customs", including the Sternsinger (Star Singers) during Epiphany and Fastnacht (Carnival) traditions where masked participants solicit treats. Gregori-singen: A Central European school tradition associated with Gregoriusfest, where children sang hymns in honor of Pope Gregory I to solicit school supplies or food.
Modern evolution In contemporary secular society, ritualized begging survives primarily in the form of trick-or-treating during Halloween. While the "trick" (a threat of mischief) was historically a more aggressive part of the exchange, modern practice has largely shifted toward a symbolic social interaction limited to children.
Legal restrictions
Begging has been restricted or prohibited at various times and for various reasons, typically revolving around a desire to preserve public order or to induce people to work rather than to beg. Various European Poor Laws prohibited or regulated begging from the Renaissance to modern times, with varying levels of effectiveness and enforcement. Similar laws were adopted by many developing countries.
"Aggressive panhandling" has been specifically prohibited by law in various jurisdictions in the United States and Canada, typically defined as persistent or intimidating begging.
Afghanistan Begging is banned in Afghanistan, which mostly exists in Kabul, Herat and Mazar-i-Sharif.
Australia Each state and territory in Australia has specific laws regarding begging and panhandling. Begging for alms is illegal in Victoria, South Australia, Northern Territory, and Queensland.
Austria There is no nationwide ban but it is illegal in several federal states.
Belarus It is legal to beg in Belarus.
Belgium Begging is legal in Belgium, but municipalities can restrict it.
Brazil It is legal to beg in Brazil, where, beyond that, the SUS (pronounced SOOS, an acronym for , meaning "Unified Health System"), the national state-funded universal healthcare system, is legally mandated to provide free healthcare also to beggars.
Bulgaria Systematic begging is illegal in Bulgaria by article 329 of the penal code.
Canada The province of Ontario introduced its Safe Streets Act in 1999 to restrict specific kinds of begging, particularly certain narrowly defined cases of "aggressive" or abusive begging. In 2001 this law was upheld under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The law was further upheld by the Court of Appeal for Ontario in January 2007.
One response to the anti-panhandling laws which were passed was the creation of the Ottawa Panhandlers Union which fights for the political rights of panhandlers. The union is a shop of the Industrial Workers of the World.
British Columbia enacted its own Safe Streets Act in 2004 which resembles the Ontario law. There are also critics in that province who oppose such laws.