Tomorrow is All Hallows Eve the night where the spirits of dead walk the earth. It’s a time of ancient tradition and rememberence of those who have passed away.

Samhain, however, is known to date back at least 2,000 years, based on analysis of a Celtic bronze calendar discovered in the 1890s in Coligny, France, in what was then called Gaul.

The festival marked the end of the Celtic year, when the harvest was gathered and animals were rounded up. It’s said the hides of cattle and other livestock slaughtered at this time were ritually worn during festivities that likely hark back to even earlier pagan beliefs.

"The spirits of the dead were impersonated by young men dressed with masked, veiled or blackened faces, dressed in white or disguises of straw." These costumes were intended both to protect revelers from any malevolent spirits and to fool households they visited.

In Scotland and elsewhere, revelers masquerading as the dead would go around demanding food offerings—a forerunner to today’s trick-or-treating.

But that was then, and costume technology has improved vastly beyond simple straw. Halloween is now one of the most creative of the holidays (in the American sense of the word) with folks creating some fantastic costumes.

But it wouldn’t be fun without at party so where can you take your amazing Halloween creation?

Kiwi Pro Wrestling: Halloween Howl IV
Tonight (Halloween eve I suppose) the Kiwi Pro Wrestlers will once again take over Wellington high School for their annual Halloween event. Expect high-flying sweaty men and extreme entertainment (seriously good fun!)

• Friday October 30th – 7.30pm Wellington High School Taranaki Street (Gate 1)
• Discounted pre-sale tickets: Adult – $20, Child – $10, under 10s free with an adult
  Group ticket (11 Adults) – $200
• Door sales: Adult – $25, Child (11-15 years) – $15

The Annual Wellington Zombie Walk & Dance of the Dead
Every year Zombie enthusiasts get together, deadify themselves and take the infection to the streets. Here are some photos of the Brisbane event this year. There’ll be a gold coin donation which goes to NZ blood charities. The walk ends at the Garden bar for the Dance of the Dead.

• Zombies gather at The Paramount 8:30pm for drinks before a Zombie walk start at 9pm (FREE).
• Zombie walk finishes at 10pm at Garden Club where "Dance of the Dead" kicks off
• Entry price: $15 or $10 dressed zombie

The Pride & Prejudice & Zombies Ball
Based on the recent book of the same name, the Wellington Historical Costume Society is holding a Halloween Ball.

• Where: St Michael’s Church Hall, Kelburn
• When: Saturday, 31 October. Doors open at 7, lesson at 7.30, dancing to begin at 8.
• Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the door, and include entry to the dance and a late supper.

Motel and Sandwiches are having special Halloween evenings with prizes for the best costumes. And I’m sure Watusi will be doing something.

So don’t be too scared, just get your fake blood on and get into the … spirit… of the evening