I'm really interested in the pre-Christian side of this (which I confess to knowing nothing about.) What was the significance of Samhain? (come to that, how DO you pronounce it, for the less educated of us?.
Had the usual trick-or-treaters round last night; all around 16 years old, demanding sweets with menaces. My standard response is to ask 'Are you Americans?' If the answer is 'no', then I ask why they are performing an American tradition in the UK? I then offer them some sweets if they can tell me why we celebrate Halloween, and what the proper name for it is in the Christian tradition. Doesn't take long for the word to get round, don't usually get more than a couple of knocks on the door. Similar approach for the 'carol singers' at Christmas. When they sing the first two lines of 'Away in a Manger' and stick the hand out for the cash, I go and get the guitar and the carol sheets and have them sing a few good ones all the way through. Again, word gets around. It's fun being a grumpy old man!
Tim