And for the day that’s in it we’re conjuring up the spirits of the past and celebrating Halloween through the years… and a Derry scare.
When Halloween first exploded in this island of Britain to the frightfest it is now is moot but I probably gave it serious attention around the titular movie.
When big reveal my take away from an underage teen cinema goer was Jamie Lee Curtis’s big reveal.
Back in the Seventies in scary suburban Glasgow in the north of this island nobody came to our doors guising.
And the only nod to All Souls’ Eve was for some reason dunking for apples out of a bowl of water.
It’s been our fortune/misfortune since to meet the day head on as parents when we moved to the home of Halloween, Ireland.
And our little horrors embraced the ghoulish garments and dress-ups.
Daddy’s Little Ghoul
Nor has it left them as they’ve become big monsters with Daddy’s Little Ghoul across in Derry to haunt the locals.
As if the good citizens of that country haven’t suffered enough.
Modern Derry has dragged itself up through the days of the Troubles launching its Derry Halloween Festival in 1986.
With visitors now more likely to seek out the Derry Girls mural for a selfie, take in the culinary, cultural and musical heritage.
Head north and to Co. Donegal for the dunes, beaches and West Atlantic Way trekking.
Samhain got me started
Now for those who didn’t have the advantage of being brought up in an Irish household and had never heard of Samhain, then it is actually the pagan festival.
From which Halloween emerged and transported to America which they then repackaged and sent back to us.
There has though been a media blitz of Samhain on British screens with Tourism Ireland promoting Ireland as the Home of Halloween in TV adverts.
Brewing up some frights
And celebrity chef Donal Skehan flagging up the Walled City to This Morning audiences.
Donal travels along the ‘Awakening the Walled City Trail’, bringing to life the rich folklore, history, and heritage of the city’s Halloween celebrations.
The segment includes spooky stories with Charlene McCrossan from McCrossan Walking Tours.
An interview with Jacqueline Whoriskey, the Festival and Events Manager with Derry City and Strabane District Council.
And a special appearance from the city’s very own Winifred the Witch!
Of course Ireland boasts a frighteningly good ghostie and banshee background with festivals like Macnas, Púca, Bram Stoker and more.
Alice Mansergh, Chief Executive of Tourism Ireland, said: “Tourism Ireland was delighted to work with Donal Skehan, bringing the magic of Derry Halloween to hundreds of thousands of GB viewers on ITV’s This Morning.
“Halloween is one of the world’s favourite festivals but not everyone knows that it originated on these shores around 2,000 years ago.”
So that’s Halloween through the years… and a Derry scare.
And we fear for those who come across Daddy’s Little Ghoul among the tens of thousands in the grand old city.
EasyJet flies from British airports to Derry with a sample return flight from £64.98.