Most Australian trick-or-treating kicks off in the evening, generally from around 5pm onwards and tends to wrap up by 8 or 9pm. Timing can vary from suburb to suburb, so it's worth checking with neighbours or your local community group especially as Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, trick-or-treating may begin earlier than if it were on a weekday.

There's no official rulebook, but a lit-up porch and a bit of Halloween décor out the front is the universal signal that a house is participating. Leaving the front light on and door visible from the street is the easiest way to invite trick-or-treaters, and turning it off is a simple way to opt out for the night.

The tradition dates back centuries, when people wore disguises to ward off wandering spirits believed to roam on the night the veil between worlds was thinnest. These days it's less about spirits and more about the fun of transforming into someone (or something) else for the night, whether that's a classic movie villain, a favourite character or a DIY creation.

Pumpkin carving has roots in an old Irish folktale about a man named Jack who was doomed to wander with only a carved turnip lantern to light his way. Irish immigrants swapped turnips for pumpkins once they arrived in America and the glowing jack-o'-lantern has been a Halloween decorating staple ever since. It's now a favourite part of Australian Halloween décor too!

No, Halloween isn't a public holiday in Australia and it falls on a different day each year depending on where the 31st of October lands. That hasn't stopped it from becoming one of the most anticipated dates on the calendar for adults and families that like to decorate, dress up or take the kids trick-or-treating.