Mischief Night

1790

Recurring night of licensed pranking and minor vandalism, observed on 4 November in Yorkshire and northern England and on 30 October in much of the United States. The phrase first appears in 1790, when a headmaster encouraged a school play ending in 'an Ode to Fun which praises children's tricks on Mischief Night in most approving terms'. Related May Day Eve mischief was criticised by Philip Stubbs as early as 1583.