Halloween is a time that appeals to many and is frowned on by a fair few too.
But where did it all begin? For some spooky fun this year you could tell your kids the story of Halloween by candlelight before they hit the streets on their trick or treating jaunts.
Halloween itself is a combination of several traditions, both Christian and Pagan that all occurred around the beginning of the winter months, which for the ancient Celts was also the marker of the New Year, November 1st.
October 31st was therefore New Years Eve, the end of summer and the beginning of a long cold dark winter.
It was believed that during this transition between seasons and years, the veil that separates the living from the spirit world of the dead was at its weakest, and the living were quite likely to come face to face with evil spirits and other ghoulish creatures.
Dressing up as ghosts was designed to disguise the living as being one of the dead so as not to attract any unwanted attention from spirits.
Many practices such as lighting bonfires, and carrying candles were all designed to create bright light which would scare off any potential evil spirits.
Years later other traditions developed, carving out any kind of root vegetable became a popular Irish tradition, beetroots, potatoes, turnips and pumpkins were hollowed out and evil faces carved upon them.
They were then placed on the front step or window of a house to ward off evil spirits.
November in early English times once held a tradition known as 'Mischief Night' where boys had license to go about turning things upside down and creating general mischief.
This was later combined with the tradition of dressing up as ghosts on Halloween and eventually became what is dear to our children's hearts today...
Trick or Treat.
We can thank the Romans for Apple Bobbing which came from their Day of the Dead, also in October.
On this day, dead relatives were remembered with a variety of different practices involving apples, a symbol of life.
And these games and beliefs were combined with Celtic traditions when the Romans invaded Britain.
And so Halloween is a festival steeped in ancient traditions which are as much about life as they are about death.
Make sure you get the kids a decent pumpkin to carve a spooky Jack 'O' Lantern to place on your step and if you are throwing a party, make a lot of noise to keep those spooky spirits away, even ghosts don't like headaches.