Mischief Night
Tricks and Pranks on the Night Before Halloween
Sep 20, 2008 Carrie Ann Wharton
While the means of mayhem wreaked on Mischief Night vary according to geographic region and creative aptitude, certain practices have been among the most popular over the years:
Common Mischief Night Pranks
- Egging houses and cars
- Toilet papering (or “TPing”) houses and yards
- Pumpkin throwing
- Unhinging fence gates and leaving them elsewhere
- Knocking on doors, then running away before anyone answers (known as “knocking down ginger”)
- Soaping windows
- Switching shop signs
History of Mischief Night in the U.S.
The introduction of Mischief Night to the United States is often attributed to Irish and Scottish immigrants who immigrated here during and after the Irish Potato Famine of 1845. Along with the tradition itself, they also popularized the folklore that the night’s pranks and “tricks” were the work of fairies, goblins and other mystical creatures that came out of hiding around the time of Halloween each year. As in the United Kingdom, Mischief Night is followed by the more well-known Halloween practice of trick-or-treating on Oct
Devil’s Night in Detroit
A more sinister version of Mischief Night developed in the city of Detroit during the aftermath of the 1967 riots. Starting in the early 1970’s, street gangs in the city’s low-income neighborhoods would commit rampant acts of arson and vandalism on the night of October 30th, using the violence as a means to exact revenge on the government and the powers-that-be.
It was around this time that Mischief Night in Detroit was increasingly dubbed “Devil’s Night.” The worst of Devil’s Night destruction occurred in the mid to late ‘80s, peaking in 1984 when more than 800 fires were set. The situation did not significantly ameliorate until the mid 1990s when local government finally took action to bring the night of October 30th under control.
Guy Fawkes Day Eve in the UK – Also a Mischief Night
The day of November 5th in the United Kingdom is a celebration similar to Halloween known “Guy Fawkes Day” in celebration of that same day in 1605 when Guy Fawkes, a Catholic protester against the protestant state, was caught trying to blow up British Parliament and was subsequently drawn and quartered.
The holiday is marked by fireworks and bonfires on which "Guy" dolls are burned in effigy. The eve of November 5th is also known as Mischief Night and celebrated by children and youth playing tricks on adults.
1938 War of the Worlds Broadcast on Mischief Night
Easily the most notorious stunt in Mischief Night history, the October 30, 1938 Orson Welles radio adaptation of the novel “War of the Worlds” created widespread panic when people mistook the fictional broadcast for actual evidence that Martians were invading the planet. The incident was followed by widespread public outrage and suspicions that Welles purposefully misled his listeners.
How to Safeguard Your Home on Mischief Night
These tips will help you ensure the mischief of Halloween Eve doesn’t go too far (at your expense):
- Keep your car parked in the garage and away from would-be eggers
- Keep plenty of lights on in your house, and if possible, have people over
- Display pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns inside your windows rather than on your porch
Mischief Night in Perspective
While adults may find Mischief Night annoying, they'll do well to remember the fun and excitement generated by a little mischief back their own youth. As long as no one is hurt and no real property damage inflicted, the night of October 30th can be a healthy and creative outlet for inevitable teenaged rebellion.
Mischievious Jack O' Lantern
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