Trick or Treat? A Journey to Ireland in search of Halloween's origins

Halloween – with the costumes, pumpkin carving and trick or treating – is believed by many people to be an import from the USA? But where did it really start?Join adventurer Phoebe Smith as she journeys on a mission to locate the home of Halloween. Her research takes here to Ireland, where an ancient Celtic ceremonial fire location was discovered a few years ago that may be the ground zero for it all. Along the way she meet characters from Irish folklore - including a sun goddess Tlachtga, visits scared burial tombs older than the Egyptian pyramids, learns about barmbrack and the traditional foods of Samhain, indulges in a seaweed bath to remove any impurities from her body and discovers the age old techniques to ward off evil spirits with the organiser of the upcoming Púca Halloween Festival. Whether you're drawn to the historical roots, the folkloric elements, good food, dressing up or simply the spirit of Halloween, this special episode promises to both enthrall and enlighten, painting a picture of a festival that is as vibrant today as it was millennia ago. Come wander with me...Contact Wander Womanwww.Phoebe-Smith.com; @PhoebeRSmith