Tired of Halloween? Then Celebrate Samhain Instead!

When the sun goes down on Halloween, it may be best to stay away from graveyards. And your front door if you haven't got treats to give away. On the other hand ... why not celebrate Halloween in the original Irish style? With traditions carried over from the pagan samhain feast. You might even scare the most hardened trick-or-treaters witless ...

An all-time-favorite was the old graveyard trick: You place some money in a bible or hymnal, then leave same on the cemetery and tell everybody that whoever brings the book back during the night may keep the money. Easy enough?

Easier said than done ... many a practical joker played a dirty hand, donning funerary clothing, watching over the money. And, once a prospective claimant stumbled through the graveyard, raising an almighty shriek ... in the process making Usain Bolt look like a snail in comparison.

Photo © 2009 Bernd Biege licensed to About.com, Inc.