Halloween parties have been around in different variations dating back to Celtic society when they'd celebrate Samhain in groups with great bonfires.

Before the arrival of Christianity, early November was when people in Europe finished the last of their harvesting, butchered their excess stock and held great feasts. They invited their deceased ancestors to join their gatherings, decorated family graves and told ghost stories.

A couple of generations ago, in areas of Ireland, young men and grown boys would sometimes travel great distances, accosting the passer-by or knocking on doors asking "Help the Hallow E'en party! Any apples or nuts?" They then used what they had gathered on a feast that also included music and dancing.

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