There is many a Halloween party being planned for this weekend throughout the Dominican Republic.

It is primarily discos who hold some of the best Halloween parties, but there are also other venues and resorts that will be hosting costume parties, with prizes for the best disguises.

Halloween, celebrated on 31 October, is widely assumed to be an American festival but it's actually an ancient Celtic pagan celebration. The term Halloween comes from All-hallow-even or All Hallows' Eve - the evening before All Hallows' Day, or All Saints' Day. The festival originated as a pagan ritual among the Celts in Ireland and Britain, who regarded 31 October as the last day of summer, November being associated with the death and slaughter of animals that provided meat for winter.

In the old Norse religion, sacrifices were made to the elves, and food was blessed and stored for winter. Irish and Scottish immigrants carried Halloween festivities to America in the 19th century.

Many kids anticipate the occasion with excitement bordering on mania!

So watch out for those ghouls and ghosts knocking on your door tomorrow night...Will it be a trick...or a treat???