Five-year-old Zachary Khalil concentrated as hard as he could. He sniffed, bit his lip and, with a determined expression, plastered his cookie with a glob of chocolate icing.

Now, Zachary prepared for the final touch.

As he reached into the tub of icing to grab one last spoonful, Zachary momentarily forgot about the cookie, letting it drop face-down onto the floor of Leverett House's Old Library.

Without missing a beat, he picked it up, licked his fingers and ran back to his mom to show her his handi-work.

Zachary was one of hundreds of kids who helped keep the Halloween spirit alive this week by participating in some of the celebrations sponsored by the House and Neighborhood Development (HAND) program.

Students from Cambridge elementary schools toured haunted houses, trick-or-treated, had their fortunes told and enjoyed Halloween parties at many of the undergraduate houses.

At yesterday's party in Leverett House, roughly 20 third graders--including Zachary and his older brother--enjoyed face painting, storytelling and cookie-decorating.

Though only a few of the kids were in costume (there were several princesses, Power Rangers, and witches), they were all caught up in the sugary sweet spirit of the Halloween season.

Halloween is the celebration of the Celtic New Year festival, formerly known as Samhain. But the meaning of the holiday, now most often associated with carnival-like costumes and candies, is best captured by childhood memories.

Halloween Pranks

On Halloween night, goblins, witches and warlocks reportedly roamed the earth. But savvy young lads would seize the opportunity to pull pranks and scapegoat the mystical monsters.

Kenan Professor of Government Harvey C. Mansfield '53 and Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III say prank-filled Halloweens are some of their fondest memories.

"I remember putting a little bit of soap on cars of disagreeable neighbors," says Mansfield. "We had our enemies and we got them--got them good on Halloween."

Mansfield says he pulled these pranks when he was nine or 10 years old.

"I got away scot free," he says, adding that he was a tough kid not to be trifled with. "Hopefully no Washington, D.C. residents read this article and remember back to Halloweens in the 1940s."