What is the meaning behind Hallowe'en? Was it always just a time for kids to dress up in scary costumes and collect candies from their neighbours? Not likely.

Hallowe'en has a story behind it just like many other holidays and traditions dating back to the Druids of ancient Britain, and one can see why there would be a little fright in this particular night. According to the book Holiday Hullabaloo - Facts, Jokes and Riddles collected by E. Richard Churchill with Eric and Sean Churchill, it is not known, for certain, when Hallowe'en was first celebrated. "For the Druids of ancient Britain November 1 was the New Year and their time to honour the god of the sun. Thus, the final night in October became their New Year's Eve. "This was the time the dead were thought to come back to earth to visit the living. For this reason, people dressed to look like ghosts and spirits hoping the spirits of the dead would not harm the living.'' The book also points out that these people also believed this was the time the souls and sinners were forced to enter the bodies of animals.

"In Scotland, people believed that Hallowe'en was the night when the goblins met to discuss who was to die. If someone went on Hallowe'en to a spot where three roads met, he or she might hear them discussing who was soon to die.

Should the person hear the name of a friend or loved one the person could throw the goblins a piece of clothing which they could take in return. "On Hallowe'en night the Irish would serve mashed potatoes with a ring, a doll, a thimble, and a coin mixed in. "The one that got the ring was soon to marry, the one receiving the doll would have children, but the one getting them thimble was doomed never to have a mate. However, the lucky one finding the coin in his or her food was soon to become rich.'' The authors of Holiday Hullabaloo also point out the use of jack o'-lanterns came from Ireland. There the children hollowed out turnips and potatoes and cut faces into them. Then just as we do today with pumpkins, a candle was placed inside. "This custom came from the tale of a dead Irishman, who was named Jack. Jack was not welcome in either heaven or hell. In order to light his way as he wandered in search of a resting place, he carried a hollowed-out turnip with a coal from the fires of hell inside.'' The book `Reader's Digest Why in the World' states that on Hallowe'en night ghosts and goblins were everywhere, and witches freely spread their fearful predictions. Who on such a night would dare to go to bed? "Once a time to strike terror into the bravest hearts, Hallowe'en has gradually become a festival of fun, particularly for the young. "Games of `trick or treat', bonfire parties, gruesome disguises, spooky lanterns, all have links with ancient times.'' The book also points out that Hallowe'en customs today are drawn from many sources. "Clearly, many of them come directly from the All Souls' Feast of the Druids, in which good and bad souls of the dead wandered in search of some new abode. Many practices go back farther. "The lighting of the bonfires, for example, may come from the worship of Baal, the Syrain Sun god, or from the other end-of-summer feasts in which fire symbolised the Sun.'' Another link may be with the Roman festival to Pomona, the goddess of fruits, which was held on November 1 to store fruits and nuts for winter. "When the Romans occupied Britain, their customs became mixed with those surviving from the Druids and others.'' To Hallowe'en fears of ghosts and goblins were added rituals of eating fruit and roasting nuts on all-night bonfires. Villagers sat or slept there until dawn, too scared to return to their spirit infested homes. A range of Hallowe'en superstitions involving apples and nuts grew up. "If a girl ate an apple before a mirror on that night, it was said she would see the face of her future husband. Another belief was in the power of apples to drive away evil spirits. "Walnuts and chestnuts thrown into a fire could give clues to the future. And so, it was believed, could cabbages. "Blindfolded girls and boys would tear them out by the roots. A well-known cabbage was an omen of a healthy partner. In time, fun replaced fear. "Lively children, seeking the delight of scaring adults out of their wits, made a mockery of superstition. They disguised themselves as ghosts, goblins and witches -- and demonstrated Hallowe'en spooks never strike back.''