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At the moment you can鈥檛 move in the shops for sales of Pumpkins, and all kinds of Hallowe'en outfits 鈥� such as masks, witches鈥� hats, and luminous skeletons. It鈥檚 being reported that spending on Hallowe鈥檈n is expected this year to surpass the billion pound mark. Come Hallowe'en there鈥檒l be the trick or treat ring of the doorbell, and spooky parties serving foul-looking broth, witches鈥� fingers and graveyard chocolate cake. But as far as the church is concerned, there鈥檚 little or no engagement except perhaps for a so-called Light Party.

Rosa Hunt takes a broader look at Hallowe'en. We hear about the history of bonfire celebrations on October 31st which stretch back to pre-Christian times; in Wales 鈥淣os Calan Gaeaf鈥� had both agricultural and spiritual significance. We ask why many in the church have little or nothing to do with Hallowe鈥檈n. As far as popular stories like the Harry Potter books or Philip Pullman鈥檚 'His Dark Materials' are concerned, the church has sometimes been accused of keeping such fantastical story lines at arm鈥檚 length. We consider why. And amidst all the Hallowe鈥檈n trick & treating, can all the fun tip over into something more sinister?

Rosa鈥檚 guests this week are:
Sergeant Sue Carrington, a crime prevention police officer based in north Wales.
Revd Dr Rob Beamish, a school chaplain and Baptist minister based in Colwyn Bay.
Mandy Bayton, Director of Evangelism, Church in Wales.
Twm Elias, Welsh author who has written a written a book about festivals during the year including 鈥淣os Calan Gaeaf鈥�.
Revd Canon Dr Jason Bray, Vicar of St Giles鈥檚 Parish Church Wrexham and a Deliverance Minister.