Halloween at Haden Hill House

This year staff are putting on a display showing some of our best halloween and bonfire night traditions and exploring the origins of the spooky events.

Sandwell's museums and services manager Jane Hanney said: "Each year at halloween we dress up, play games, bob apples and go trick or treating, but how many people know where these traditions came from.

"Also, why is it that we celebrate a group of people trying to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605 by holding bonfire night?

"So this year we are putting on a display at Haden Hill House which explores some of our best known halloween and bonfire night activities and where they came from."

Cabinet member for leisure services Councillor Linda Horton said: "A lot of people think many of the halloween traditions have come from America, but in reality a lot of the activities we celebrate have been around thousands of years in this country."

She said they were imported to America by people who moved there to make a new start in life. They have now come back to Britain, leading to the myth.

Apples have been associated with autumn festivals since Roman times who would play games involving apples to celebrate the goddess of fruit and vegetables.

In ancient times people thought that the dead roamed the earth at this time of year so would dress up as ghouls so that the dead did not recognise them as living people.

Also, in medieval and Tudor times before we had pumpkins in England, people would hollow out turnips and other vegetables to ward away evil spirits.

The display runs from October 4 until the middle of November and is free to visit.

There are lots of Halloween and autumnal activities at the museum for both families and adults throughout October.

Anyone wanting more details should visit: www.sandwell.gov.uk/museums