Feel like an old fogey.

The ancient feeling of Samhain barely survives. Xianity tried to dumb it down with dead saints , and then American tricks and treats killed off the Xian feelings.
I suppose there is no need for Samhain any more now that Europeans seldom earn their livings as seasonal cattle herders.

BTW, the tradition of candles placed inside turnip or pumpkin lanterns is a remnant of the practice of surrounding the sacred place or home with empty skulls with torches inside, mounted on fences and barricades to guard against hostile forces supernatural or human.

Nice one, Houndi! :-D

I doubt whether all the celtic and nordic religious festivals that everyone gets so excited about were the first ones. They probably replaced previous religious beliefs and festivals. While all religions (including Christianity) tend to have festivals round the solstices, no one knows which was the first one - and does it matter?

Well I’m in the U.K. and I think it’s going to be spot the pumpkin so I will be putting one in our window the children will be walking round with their families and every time they spot one they will be given a treat from whoever is going out with them, they won’t be knocking on doors this year

i wouldnt want my child to go round begging for treats .our family dont celebrate halloween at all. if you dont want to join in .leave a polite notice outside saying so. saying that back in 1999 i let my daughter go trick and treating in florida ,her one time ever. (sexy witch). halloween in the usa is totally different from in the uk. we batten down the hatches round here ,broken windows/fireworks let off by stupid youths holding the rockets /eggs down the windows.