HALLOWEEN TREATS

In Los Angeles, with its tapestry of diverse cultures, there is more than one way to celebrate Halloween. While thousands of children take to the streets for trick or treating, other families prepare for festivities rooted in ethnic traditions:

* Dia de los Muertos-- The Day of the Dead is observed Nov. 1 and Nov. 2 by Mexican and Central American communities. It is a festive occasion that jeers death and seeks to reunite the departed with the living. Colorful household altars are built to honor the memory of the dead and toy skeletons, flowers and calaveras de azucar --smiling skulls made of sugar--are placed on relatives’ graves.

* Fiesta ng patay-- The Feast of the Dead is celebrated by Filipino community members, who picnic at the gravesides of relatives. Entire families join in cleaning and decorating the tombs. Other activities include playing mah jong and preparing traditional foods such as adobo (chicken or pork marinated in soy sauce) and maned (boiled peanuts).

* Samhain-- According to the ancient Celtic calendar, the official end of summer falls on Oct. 31. Irish immigrants of the 1840s are credited with bringing to this country many of the secularized traditions of today’s Halloween celebrations--carving jack-o’-lanterns, trick or treating and building bonfires. Today, observations include serving a dish called callcannon , made from mashed potatoes, onions and parsnips.

Most Likely Costumes:

Popular outfits for youths this season, merchants say, are Teen-Age Mutant Ninja Turtles and Bart Simpson. Batman also remains a favorite.

Favorite Haunts:

For thrill-seekers, haunted houses, carnivals, costume parades, parties and plays are planned at more than 100 neighborhood parks. For more information call the Department of Parks and Recreation nearest you.

Safety Tips:

From Ventura County to Southern Orange County, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and Prime Time Shuttle have teamed up to provide free rides home. For information call (213) 558-1606.

Costumes should be flame-resistant, trick or treaters should opt for makeup or decorative hats instead of masks, and strips of reflective tape should be applied to costumes. Inspect treats before allowing children to eat them.

How to Grow Great Pumpkins:

1. Keep seeds from your largest pumpkin, or buy “Prize Winner” seeds from a catalog company, about 10 for about $1.35. Treat seeds with a general purpose fungicide.

2. Plant seeds in May or June in steer manure. Pumpkin is fully grown in about 125 to 150 days.

3. Water about every 10 days, using the drip irrigation method if possible.

4. Feed pumpkins with plant food loaded with zinc and phosphate.

5. When pumpkins become twice the size of a basketball, start turning once a week to keep them round.*

Ghost Stories:

Here are two legendary ghost stories in Southern California:

* Spanish ghosts in Saugus Hills: Plum Canyon in Saugus, which runs from Vasquez Canyon to Bouquet Canyon Road, is reportedly where a small contingent of Spanish soldiers were ambushed and slain by Indians during the war between Spain and Mexico in 1821. Repeated stories of strange happenings in the canyon keep the tale alive.

* Pioneer’s ghost in Long Beach: Rancho Los Cerritos at 4600 Virginia Road, a colonial two-story adobe built in 1844, was once home to pioneer John Temple. His spirit is said to roam the adobe looking for silver he once buried on the grounds. No one has ever found the treasure.

* From Joe Cicero, owner of Cicero Farms at Pierce College in Woodland Hills.

Compiled by Times researchers Cecilia Rasmussen and Mike Meyers