HALLOWEEN

"From ghoulies to ghosties and long-leggety beasties
And things that go bump in the night,
Good Lord, deliver us!"

Halloween is a contraction of All Hallows Eve, the night before All Saints Day (November 1st). Ancient tradition maintained that on this night the spirits of the deceased would roam the earth looking for new bodies to inhabit - this is the origin of Halloween costumes and the 'trick' of trick or treating. It was believed that by dressing in outlandish costume and causing chaos the spirits would be driven away.