Hundreds of years before Christ was born, Samhain was a Celtic celebration, marking the end of summer and the beginning of the new year, on 1 November. During Samhain, the Irish Celts believed that the spirits of those who had died the previous year came back on that night to look for living bodies to possess. Villagers dressed up in ghoulish costumes and paraded around villages in order to scare away the spirits.

Belief in spirits began to wane, but many children continued to play-act the part of evil spirits to be appeased, asking for treats from house to house. About 700 A.D. the Church decided to combat this festival by replacing it with a celebration of eternal life and honouring saints who had modelled the Christian life. 1 November was called All Saints Day, All Souls Day or All Hallowed Day. The evening before was called "All Hallows Eve," and soon shortened to Halloween.

Today, children "trick or treating" remains an established Halloween tradition and the sale of costumes, candy, and party goods is a booming business. But while many follow these traditions innocently, Satanists and those who practise witchcraft use the night as a primary festival for dark practices. Some families and churches, in an effort not to imitate evil, encourage their children to dress as animals, story book characters or Biblical figures. Last year in Ashtead the churches organised The Treat - with fun, food and family games, culminating in a firework display on Halloween. This year a similar event is being planned on 31 October.

But remember the greatest treat of all - life in all its fullness (John 10:10) through faith in Jesus Christ our Saviour.