Beggar’s Night—In some areas of the United States, Beggar’s Night is October 30, the night before Halloween (and was sometimes used interchangeably with MISCHIEF NIGHT), but children would often TRICK OR TREAT on both nights. However, in some rural areas, Halloween is disliked because trick or treat is considered to be begging, so the night of October 31 is referred to instead as Beggar’s Night. There have always been those who have looked down on Halloween as a night for beggars: In Act II, Scene 1 of Shakespeare’s Two Gentlemen of Verona, the character  Speed speaks of someone puling “like a beggar at Hallowmass.”

SEE ALSO:

• DEVIL’S NIGHT.

SOURCE:

The Halloween Encyclopedia Second Edition written by Lisa Morton © 2011 Lisa Morton. All rights reserved