The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

HALLOWEEN CUSTOM

THE DAY BEFORE HALLOWEEN' OCTOBER 30, IS COMMONLY KNOWN AS DEVIL,S
NIGHT. ON THAT NIGHT CHILDREN ARE SUPPOSED TO GO ABOUT THEIR
NEIGHBORHOODS RINGING DOORBELLS, SOAPING
WINDOWS OR STREAMING TOILET TISSUE ON TREES. IT IS A HARMLESS
DIVERSION.

Submitter comment: IN RECENT YEARS DEVIL'S NIGHT HAS NOT BEEN HARMLESS. IT HAS TURNED
FROM A NIGHT OF PRANKS TO A NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION. BREAKING WINDOWS,
THROWING STONES AT CARS OR PAINT AT HOUSES IS NOT UNCOMMON. WAX
HAS BEEN SUBSTITUTED FOR SOAP. THE CHANGE IN CHILDREN'S PRANKS
COULD VERY WELL BE RELATED TO THE SICKNESS IN RECENT HALLOWEENS.
IN RECENT YEARS RAZOR BLADES, POISON AND NEEDLES HAVE BEEN PLACED IN
TRICK OR TREATER'S CANDY AND APPLES. THIS COULD VERY WELL HAVE A
DIRECT CORRELATION.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): CRUEL PRANKS

Date learned: CA00001962