Posted by murrisk on October 12, 2000 at 01:34:52:
What childhood memories? Bobbing for apples, barm brack with its pea, ring, farthing and one other item I believe.
Masks, visiting the neighbours, ringing doorbells and running away.
The old tales - the barrier with the spirit world was lowered on this night so the dead could visit the living - hence the masks.
The pooka, the banshee, the coiste bodhar, will-o-the -wisp (now know as fireflys).
How did somethig some Gaelic and simple get perverted into devil's night and arson.