Halloween 2011

The history of Halloween

Apparently the ancient Celts thought up the earliest halloween-type celebrations, sometimes placing skeletons in doorways to represent their dead ancestors. The Irish gave us the origins of the Jack o'Lantern - they used vegetables to symbolise heads of the dead. But we owe the tradition of the carved Hallowe'en Pumpkin to North America, the same as spooky Halloween costumes and trick or treating.

Just as there are plenty of ghosts here in Sussex, there are also plenty of special Halloween events in West Sussex - here are just a few to chill the bones and make your hair stand on end. So grab your broom and cauldron, dig out your spell book and dust off your witch's costume from last year. It's Halloween.