Mischief night

Mischief night is a tradition in some parts of the world; a night when people do mischief to their neighbours. This is usually 30 October, the day before Halloween night.
However in some parts of the North of England it is the night before Bonfire Night i.e.the 4th November.

Traditional practice

Traditional mischiefs:

Knocking and tapping on doors and windows
Throwing paint
Putting treacle on door handles
Tying door handles together to stop them opening
Moving gates
Egging houses
Toilet papering houses 

Current Day Practice
Sometimes combined with Trick or Treat.

In Detroit and other parts of Michigan, October 30 is called Devil's Night and includes vandalism and arson.'Devil's Night' Fires Decline By More Than Half in Detroit Retrieved on 30 October 2008Live Science: October 29, 2008-Devil's Night: The History of Pre-Halloween Pranks by Heather Whipps

In southern New Jersey and the Philadelphia region, October 30 is referred to as "Mischief Night," where mischievous teens soap car windows, egg houses, adorn trees with toilet paper, and run away after ringing doorbells. In other parts of New Jersey, October 30 is also known as "Cabbage Night" or "Goosey Night." You say, "Goosey night" and I say "Mischief night"  Retrieved on 30th October In Camden, New Jersey.  Over 130 arsons were committed in that city on the night of October 30, 1991.Firehouse.com News: Fire and Police Departments Extinguish Pre-Halloween Arson Sprees Retrieved on 30 October 2008

It is known as "Gate Night" in Trail, British Columbia, Winnipeg, Canada and as Mat Night in Quebec, Canada, always on the 30 October, the eve of Halloween. It is also commonly known as "Devil's Night" in many places throughout Canada.

In Yorkshire, it is also known as "mischievous night", "Miggy Night", "Tick-Tack Night", "Corn Night", "Trick Night" and "Micky Night". 

Modern mischief includes toilet papering gardens and buildings, flouring and egging of cars, people, and homes, "forking" gardens, setting off fireworks and smashing pumpkins and jack-o'-lanterns.  Local shops do not sell eggs to chavs around the time of Halloween.  Sometimes the damage includes spray-painting of buildings and homes.Jackson Citizen Patriot: October 21, 2007-Halloween blow-ups vandalized in Springport by Jake May

People play "Ding-Dong Ditch": in this 'game', people knock on doors and then run and hide.

Media
A 2006 film Mischief Night is based on a night in Leeds, UK.Mischief Night film review Retrieved on 31 October 2008imdb ref Retrieved on 31 October 2008

Notes

References
 Confessions from a Mischief Night brat  BBC Yorkshire report — November 2006
 Police Patrol for Mischief Night BBC Merseyside report — November 2006
 Dialect Survey Results  US terms;prevalence and distribution

Category:British culture
Category:Crime
Category:Observances