A week from tonight, the streets of residential Tahlequah will be full of witches, ghosts, goblins and many other caricatures intent on receiving treats or playing tricks.

Halloween, All Hallows Eve (“hallow” means “sanctify”), or Samhain (for those of Celtic descent, pagans or Wiccans) is associated with many customs, not just going door-to-door asking for candy. Other names for the holiday include Hallowtide, Hallowmass, Hallows, The Day of the Dead and All Soul’s Night.

The holiday had its beginnings in the British Isles, while modern-day trick-or-treating began in the U.S. Both are based on customs brought to this country with the Irish immigration after 1840.

According to Witches’ Voice, a leading Wiccan Web site, Samhain is a very spiritual time for Wiccans and pagans, because Oct. 31 lies exactly between the Autumnal Equinox and the Winter Solstice, and provides a very potent time for magic and communion with spirits.

In Ireland, Scotland and England, Oct. 31 is celebrated as a feast for the dead, and also marks the beginning of a new year. Historically, the end of the harvest closed the year.

For the ancient Celts, Samhain (pronounced SAW-win) provided mortals an opportunity to celebrate their dead ancestors or, since this is one of two nights during the year the veil between the realm of the dead and the living is “thin,” an opportunity to commune and converse with family members who have “passed on.”

Often, the dead were invited to feast with the living. Following the party, the spirits were escorted out of town by villagers dressed in costumes, including goblins and ghosts – hence the tradition of wearing costumes.

Carved pumpkins, or jack-o’-lanterns, are also descendants of Celtic ritual. Lanterns carved out of pumpkins or turnips were used to provide light on a night when huge bonfires were lit, and all the households let their fires go out so the could be rekindled from this new fire. This was believed to be good luck for all families.

According to Witches’ Voice, the name “jack-o’-lantern” means “Jack of the Lanterns,” and is derived from an old Irish folktale. Jack was a man who couldn’t enter heaven or hell, and was condemned to wander through the night with only a candle in a turnip for light.

Trick-or-treating is also a custom derived from Samhain traditions, and is still very popular here in Tahlequah. Many children who live in the country get dressed up in costumes and travel into town to receive a generous portion of treats.

Rita Lamb, information coordinator for Cherokee Nation Health Services, was one such child.

“When I was growing up, we lived in the country, so – as dumb as this sounds – I enjoyed getting to go to town and dressing up for Halloween,” she said. “I think my mom and dad’s favorite costume for me was Tweety Bird, with the big plastic feet and face mask.”

Lamb enjoys Halloween, and hosts a party every year to celebrate.

“We are having our second annual costume party for all of our friends,” she said. “We recently held a kids’ Halloween costume party for our children and their friends, which was fantastic!”

Lamb believes the occasion gives kids of all ages an opportunity to stretch their imagination.