Growing up in Michigan "Devil's Night" (the night before Halloween) was a big deal but when and where did it originate?

What is Devil's Night?

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Devil's Night is not demons from hell running around causing problems the night before Halloween but it does entail people doing devilish things.

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When I was a kid riding the bus on Halloween morning we would pass houses that had been "TP'd" the night before on Devil's Night. Almost every year a school teacher's house would have toilet paper hanging from the trees and sometimes over the house too.

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Devil's Night has been on Halloween on October 30 in the United States since around the 1930s and 40s. On this night, many teenagers would throw eggs or toilet paper at houses, but some pranks were much more destructive and violent in nature.

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I remember being in high school in 1984, and every news network on television covered the nearly 1000 fires set in old buildings and houses in Detroit. Flint and Saginaw were pretty bad too.

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Where Did Devil's Night Originate?

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Devil's Night started as Mischief Night in Britain in the 1700s. The British originally celebrated Mischief Night in late April but in the 19th century, it moved into the fall months.

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Students at Oxford would play pranks around town like switching store signs, overturning water tubs, tapping people inside their houses, or smearing syrup on door knobs. According to the GNA Insider, a school teacher encouraged students to play harmless pranks on each other and it has grown from then on to bigger pranks and other countries.

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I don't recommend anyone participating in Devil's Night. Michigan has laws against it but vary depending on what city you live in:

  • Curfews - Minors under 18 are required to be home by 6 p.m. In some cities, it's 10 p.m.
  • Fuel restrictions - It's illegal for minors to fill portable containers with fuel from October 27 through 31. Violating this law can get you up to 90 days in jail and a $500 fine.

With cameras on doorbells, security cameras, street corner cameras, cell phone cameras, volunteer neighborhood watches, plus heavy police patrolling you are bound to get caught.

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