Traditionally a northern hemisphere celebration, Halloween is becoming more popular in Australia. It began with the Druids who believed that on October 31st, the lord of the dead released the souls that had been condemned over the past year. On their release, it was believed, these presumably unhappy souls would return to haunt the homes where they once lived.
The only way current residents could protect themselves from being haunted was to lay out food for the spirit. If they didn’t, the spirit would cast a spell on them – hence the phrase “trick or treat”.
