Teenagers are eagerly awaiting Halloween, celebrated on October 31 in many parts of the world. But others, such as the residents of Swieqi, are dreading the day after youngsters wearing masks threw eggs, flour and shaving foam at cars and houses two years ago.
Last year a strong police and warden presence ensured that the "ammunition" which the youngsters had intended to throw at innocent victims was confiscated before they could cause any disturbance.
This year the local council is not taking any risks either. Swieqi mayor Paul Abela yesterday met deputy police commissioner Josie Brincat and St Julian's inspector Mario Tonna to discuss measures that would minimise the inconvenience caused to residents.
Mr Abela said there would be a police presence throughout Swieqi, especially in the Esprit Barthet garden area, and wardens would assist the police.
The police, he said, would enforce the law, so the wearing of masks would not be allowed. Masks can only be worn lawfully during carnival.
Local events related to the day are masterminded in schools and groups of children and teenagers meet at the garden in Swieqi to execute their plans for the day.
The council, Mr Abela said, had no intention of halting the youngsters' celebrations but it wanted to ensure that residents, especially the elderly, were left in peace.
Mr Abela said the council was doing its best to ensure that all the necessary precautions were taken but the responsibility for maintaining law and order rested with the police.
Luckily, Halloween was only an annual event, he added.
While many associate the day with evil, the roots of the celebration have more to do with old Celtic customs. In the fifth century BC, in Celtic Ireland, summer officially ended on October 31 and the day was called Samhain, the Celtic New Year.
One Celtic legend has it that Halloween originated because villagers wanted to frighten away spirits looking for bodies to possess.
Later, the Romans adopted the Celtic practices and their thrust changed over time to become more ritualised.
As belief in spirit possession waned, the practice of dressing up like hobgoblins, ghosts and witches took on a more ceremonial role.
The custom of Halloween was exported to America in the 1840s by Irish immigrants fleeing their country's potato famine.
The word Halloween actually has its origins in the Catholic Church, being a corruption of All Hallows Eve. All Hallows Day or All Saints Day, November 1, is a Catholic day of observance in honour of saints.