FORGOTTEN MISCHIEF NIGHT
Nearly 75% of American do not know that the day before Halloween has a special name all its own.
It's not surprising that a day when tricks, treats and pranks are the order of the day and what better name than Mischief Night?
Just like other holidays, the eve before gets its own special celebration. The same holds true with Halloween, even though many Americans are not aware this exists. It's known as Mischief Night. It is especially popular in the northeast states. This Halloween eve celebration has other names such as: Devil's Night, Cabbage Night, Devil's Eve, Gate Night and Goosey Night.
Mischief Night though has been celebrated all over the USA.
On October 30, 1930, police in Santa Rosa, California banned Mischief Night in order to curb destruction. Special patrols were under orders to bring in any youths caught in "destructive acts" and lock them up until morning.
Mischief Night originated in the United Kingdom and reference is found to it as early as the 18th century. There are mentions made of a date in May or November 4, the eve of Guy Fawkes Day which was also known as Bonfire Night.
Right before Halloween, on October 29, 1929 known as Black Tuesday, the market crashed on Wall Street. The date is tied to tension and uncertainty about the future, which is also coupled with a desire to forget your woes and go trick-o-treating.
The problem started when instead of harmless but irritating antics, vandalism escalated to the point of destroying property.
The place is Wisconsin, the year is 1977, when a police squad car had its tires slashed. Eggs were thrown at houses, and there was a report of a hanging body, which turned out to be a prank. Mailboxes were knocked down.
Mischief Night took on a reputation as a time of mindless destruction, or as an "autumnal rites of ruin and ravage."
In 1978, one newspaper reporter from Connecticut compared it to when the Vandals sacked Rome. Emperor Justinian stopped their raids after 100 years, by raiding them instead, and it worked.
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It was proposed that as a solution to the damage being wrought, another holiday to be called "4-ANight" with the four As standing for Adult Avenging Angel Atrocities, which would be started for one month starting on All Hallows Eve until November 30.
Strategies would be:
"Batteries would mysteriously disappear from transistor radios.
Dungarees, denims and jeans would be consigned to the laundromat or basement washing machine and unavailable for school wear.Molasses, maple syrup and thick gobs of peanut butter would find their way into the sprockets and gear boxes of all 10-speed bikes. Mopeds, motorbikes and motorcycles would suddenly lose their spark plugs and gas tank covers.
All hair blowers would be carried off into captivity. Pocket combs would inexplicably all be broken or gape with rows of missing teeth.
All amplifiers, stereo speakers, tape decks, electronics instrument of all kinds would have their wires cut and their plugs removed.
Local radio stations would be encouraged to play only Lawrence Welk and Lestin Lanin albums. Teachers would be invited to pile on the homework. Barbers would only do crew cuts.
The Taylor Daily Press
During the 1980s Detroit was plagued by fires. In 1984, there over 800 of them set, and in 1986, a curfew was imposed on any minor person. The city government got desperate and even enlisted the help of volunteers.
Some wonder, when did bobbing for apples become boring?