Beneath the beauty and serenity of the White House, the monuments and the Potomac River there is an imminent darkness. Here remain tales of history that are usually left out of brochures and walking tours. Among the government figures and residents are countless ghosts that call Washington, D.C. their home.

Inside the White House, Abigail Adams can be seen wandering about, sometimes folding spectral laundry. In the attic lives the first president to die in office, William Henry Harrison. Staff and guests have spotted Abe Lincoln roaming his namesake chamber, the Lincoln Bedroom. On the eve of several national tragedies, a black cat has been seen in the White House’s basement.

Several blocks away stands the National Theatre, which is known to hold actor John McCullogh’s sprits. Killed by a jealous actor backstage, McCullough has been said to appear on every opening night. Not far from the theatre is the quaint neighborhood of Georgetown. Besides the apparitions that linger on the exorcist steps or the ghosts that live in the town’s cemetery, some talk of seeing the spirits of the Kennedys.

As October is nearing its end, thoughts of its final day lurk in most people’s minds. What to do, what to wear, what to fear? For students, D.C. can offer quite the scare for Halloween.

The history of haunting

The word Halloween originated in the Catholic Church. It comes from All Hollows Eve, the night before All Hollows Day, which is the Catholic Church’s time to honor saints. In the fifth century BC in Celtic Ireland the same day was known as the Celtic New Year.

It is told that the disembodied spirits of all those who passed in that year would come back and try to possess living bodies. In order for the people to escape the spirits, they would frighten them by extinguishing their fires, being destructive and dressing in costume. Soon the Romans took on the Celtic traditions, but added some of their own. The final day of October was their day to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. The symbol of Pomona is the apple, which accounts for bobbing apples on Halloween.

The custom of trick-or-treating came from a 19th century European tradition called souling. On November 2, Christians would walk from village to village begging for “soul cakes,” which were square pieces of bread with currants. With each cake received, they would promise to say a prayer asking for the deceased relatives of the donor to be sent to heaven. Over the years, the customs of the Celts, Romans and Catholics have united. Oct. 31st became known as All Hollow’s Eve, then Hallowe’en and finally Halloween.

District fright spots

Before the big day, several events are taking place in the city for Halloween. From October 17-31, Fright House Extreme Scream will haunt Southeast on the 65,000 ft. of the D.C. Armory floor. The show consists of a cast of more than 160 people. Actors perform and interact with the visitors. One such interaction is the FBI Freezer, disguised to look like a frigid morgue, where visitors find their own way out of a maze. In another section, 3D glasses allow visitors to fully experience decorations and monsters. Showtimes vary and tickets are about $20, available from ticket master.

For a more realistic scare try the haunted Georgetown walking tour. At 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30, tour guides will retell historical ghost stories. The tour begins at an early 19th century cemetery once used as a stop on the Underground Railroad. It consists of a walk down the exorcist steps and through haunted areas in which the Kennedys lived. The tour includes stories of haunted mansions and the Federal-period home, where candles are said to extinguish on their own at 10 p.m.

Ghostly grooving

For most college students, Oct. 31 has one meaning – another excuse to party. And D.C. caters accordingly. The biggest party may be yet again at the Zanzibar nightclub on the waterfront. The club, which is usually 21 to get in, becomes 18 and up for Halloween. The event, called “The Grand Masquerade Ball 2002,” invites five universities from the area. Doors will open at 9 p.m. and tickets are $20. Prizes like trips and TVs will be awarded for best costumes.

Sophomore Ashley Stucki said Zanzibar’s Halloween ball was enjoyable last year, but no different then any other club with students dressed in costume. Stucki and her roommate rummaged through their closets for costumes to wear.

“I was a Catholic school girl,” Stucki said “I borrowed my roommates Catholic school outfit from high school.”

Sophomore Ori Korin said she had fun at Zanzibar, but the room was crowded.

For a similar experience, Platinum near Metro Center will throw their annual Halloween Bash on Oct. 31. Advertised as “18 to taunt, 21 to haunt,” doors open at 9 p.m. and women enter for free until 11 p.m. There is a $1,000 cash prize for the best costume.

Another place to party or just observe a street packed with people in costume is M Street in Georgetown. This year, Lindy Promotions and DC 101 are presenting the Nightmare on M Street bar crawl on Oct. 31. Those 21-plus can trick-or-treat at bars including Rumors, The Front Page, Madhatter, Sign of the Whale, The Bottom Line and Tequila Grille. The party runs from 5 to 10 p.m. and starts at Rumors at 19th and M streets. The bar tour costs $7 with a costume and $10 without. There will be food specials and no cover at any of the bars included until 9 p.m.

For a lower key Halloween experience, trick-or-treating on Embassy Row has been a popular tradition for years. Students are invited to attend this event, which begins at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. For $40, trick-or-treaters can join a tour that leads each group to various embassies that provide international candy representing their countries. Tickets can be purchased online at www.dcyoungpro.com/tickets.shtml, but students can also go to the embassies on their own.

Junior Eli Gamboa said he and his friends went trick-or-treating on embassy row their freshman year.

“We didn’t go on any organize programs, we just showed up and started knocking on doors,” Gamboa said. “It was really different because a lot of the countries didn’t celebrate Halloween and they turned us away, others were real nice and gave us candy.”

Many students are staying away from the big clubs and instead attending bars and apartment and residence hall parties.

On Thursday, a chance for some fun before the night’s party will take place on campus. The International Student Society and the International Services Office plans their traditional Halloween Party. From 4 to 6 p.m. they will have pumpkin carvings, treats and hot drinks. The event is located at 2127 G St. in room 209 and costs $3.

Masks, costumes and capes

Besides the chance to party, Halloween has another meaning for students and people of all ages – a day to dress in costume. On Thursday, some students will be brave enough to rip off their Diesel Jeans and leave their Prada bags behind as they dress as ghosts, goblins or a McDonald’s shake. That’s right, a McDonald’s shake, available online at halloweenstreet.com, a cyber costume store.

The Web site features more than 160 adult costumes, most of which range from $20 to $25. It takes 48 hours to receive the orders. If virtual costume shopping doesn’t work for you, The Costume Studio in Northeast provides a large selection of homemade adult costumes.

Store employee Melanie Clark said merchandise ranges from $30 to $50. Like previous years, 18th century costumes have been the biggest sellers. New for this year are Scooby Doo, Wonder Woman, Cow Girl, and the Big Bad Wolf. And it’s not too late, there are still plenty of costumes left for college students who have decided to procrastinate.

“I dressed up as a raver girl last year. This year I’m going to be a princess,” Korin said. However, she feels that once she’s out of college, she’ll keep her costumes in her closet.

Junior Sabi Chawla said last year she went party hopping in Georgetown and will probably do the same this year.

“Last year I was a thug,” Chawla said, “We just used stuff we already had, but we buy fun makeup and glitter to get all done up.”

Sophomore Stephanie Birnbaum said plans to dress up for years.

“I’ll stop dressing up when I’m married,” Birnbaum said.
Junior Sumeet Khemani said he and his friends are dressing up as the characters from the Wizard of Oz. He said for their costumes they will make some purchases, but will also rely on finding stuff in their rooms.
“We’re thinking of going to a costume store, but that is our last resort,” Khemani said. “I want to be the Wizard. I’ll never be too old to
dress up.”

-Adina Matusow contributed to this story.