According to the Washington Post, about 2,600 trick-or-treaters from local schools “swooped, skulked and pitter-pattered their way through the front drive of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, stopping at the North Portico to get their treat: a plastic baggy containing White House M&Ms, an orange sugar cookie in the shape of the residence, and clumps of [dried] apricots, apples and papayas.”
Meanwhile, wandering around in front of the orange-lit White House were a dozens of odd creatures, including musicians dressed as skeletons, walking trees, Star Wars characters, and dancers dressed as bright red and gold butterfliesinside giant bubbles.
After chatting with the trick-or-treaters, the Obamas hosted a reception for military families in the East Room of the White House. In his welcoming remarks, the president acknowledged the many sacrifices made by military families and said, “'We are so grateful to you. Especially now, a lot of the times, you guys are separated. It's tough. The spouses who are at home are serving just as much as folks who are deployed. So we are just so thrilled that you guys could be here.”
Of course, this wasn't the first Halloween celebration at the White House. Known for her outgoing and playful personality, Mamie Eisenhower hosted a Halloween party for the wives White House staff members. Described as “the most interesting party ever given in the dignified setting of the White House,” it reportedly included “skeletons hanging from the State Dining Room chandeliers and witches on broomsticks riding over the white tablecloth.”
In later years, Richard Nixon’s daughter Tricia hosted a Halloween carnival for underprivileged school children in the D.C. area while the Fords and Carters welcomed trick-or-treaters from charitable organizations like UNICEF. And to mark their first Halloween in the White House, President George H.W. Bush and his wife Barbara staged an Anti-Drug Youth Rally for 500 local school children on the South Lawn, where they loaded the youngsters up with treats and spoke to them about the dangers of illegal drugs.
If you'd like to whip up some White House Halloween treats this week, here's arecipe for Sweet Dough Butter Cookies from White House pastry Chef Bill Yosses:
1 pound sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 pounds butter
1 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
3 pounds all-purpose flour
Mix the butter and sugar till soft and well beaten. Then add eggs, vanilla, salt and half the flour. Beat on slow speed till mixed, then add the rest of the flour and mix until incorporated. Push flat onto a cookie sheet and refrigerate overnight. Roll out to one quarter inch thick and cut out cookie shapes with cookie cutter. Bake at 350 degrees F for 14 minutes and then allow to cool.
FAST FACT: Some say the origins of Halloween can be traced back to the ancient pagan Celtic festival of Samhain, which was celebrated on the night of October 31. The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France, believed that the dead returned to earth on Samhain. According to (my article) on history.com, people would gather to light bonfires, offer sacrifices and pay homage to the deceased. During some celebrations of Samhain, villagers disguised themselves in costumes made of animal skins to drive away phantom visitors" while banquet tables with edible offerings were left out to placate unwelcome spirits. In later centuries, people began dressing as ghosts, demons and other malevolent creatures, performing antics in exchange for food and drink. This custom, known as mumming, dates back to the Middle Ages and is thought to be an antecedent of trick-or-treating.
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