Observed on

October 30th

 

Observed by

(Unoffically) Canada, Ireland, United Kingdom, United States

Country of Origin 

England

Celebrations/Customs

Vandalism, Practical Jokes, Pranks, Parties

Similar/Related to:

Devil's Night, Gate Night, Goosey Night, Moving Night, Cabbage Night, Mat Night

Key Points / Halloween Connection

- Unofficial holiday where people engage in jokes, pranks, vandalism or parties

- Pranks have ranged from simple and harmless to extremely dangerous and destructive

Brief Bio

The earliest use of the phrase 'mischief night' comes from 1790, when a headmaster encouraged a school play which ended in "an Ode to Fun which praises children's tricks on Mischief Night in most approving terms". The concept of Mischief Night is certainly older though, as Puritan Philip Stubbs decries the May Day Eve mischief night as early as 1583.

In some regions in England, these pranks originated as part of 'Bringing in the May' on May Day Eve, but gradually shifted to later in the year. Dates vary in different areas, with some marking it traditionally on 4 November (the night before Bonfire Night), or the 30th October (the night before Halloween), though the latter is more common nowadays.

Word of Mischief Night began to appear in U.S. newspapers in the 1930s and 1940s and told of those who were celebrating wanting to put distance between the wholesome night of trick or treating and the chaotic night of causing havoc around the town. Some believed that the stress of the Great Depression was causing people to act out and this is what caused Mischief Night to break out at that time.