Lemmy117 Posted October 30, 2022 Share Posted October 30, 2022 Listened to a programme on BBC 4Xtra last night about Halloween customs and they mentioned Cakey Night. Apparently it was peculiar to the Sheffield area, happened between Halloween and Bonfire night and involved going to houses in disguise, and begging for food or drink. The house owner would ask questions to try and work out who the person in disguise was, and if they guessed right they got nothing, but if they gave up they could have food or drink. I've never heard of this, and the programme didn't give more information, such as how long ago this custom took place, anybody any more information? Nigel L Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ponytail Posted October 30, 2022 Share Posted October 30, 2022 43 minutes ago, Lemmy117 said: Listened to a programme on BBC 4Xtra last night about Halloween customs and they mentioned Cakey Night. Apparently it was peculiar to the Sheffield area, happened between Halloween and Bonfire night and involved going to houses in disguise, and begging for food or drink. The house owner would ask questions to try and work out who the person in disguise was, and if they guessed right they got nothing, but if they gave up they could have food or drink. I've never heard of this, and the programme didn't give more information, such as how long ago this custom took place, anybody any more information? Nigel L Never heard of Cakey Night. It wasn't until a few years ago I'd heard of Mischief Night, supposedly Nov 4th, seemingly an excuse for anti social behaviour. Can't remember taking part in Trick or Treating for Halloween either, the only activity I took part in was Penny for the Guy and collecting wood for the Bonfire. I'm sure if anybody had come knocking at our door in disguise they wouldn't have got anything but a telling off. 😂🤣 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edmund Posted October 30, 2022 Share Posted October 30, 2022 I think this relates to soul mass cakes (or somas cakes). There's a write up on Wikipedia here: Soul Cakes which says it continued into modern times in Sheffield. The article below suggests that the tradition was almost forgotten by 1876: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lysanderix Posted October 30, 2022 Share Posted October 30, 2022 Never heard of Cakey night..although in the West Riding ,where my cousins lived, they enjoyed Trick or Treat night or as it was sometimes known…Mischief night. On the Brushes, at best ,we tried to hollow out a Turnip and put a candle inside it….to put in the window….usually, the turnip defeated young hands with a pen knife.! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heartshome Posted October 30, 2022 Share Posted October 30, 2022 I'm with the others, never heard of it. It obviously died out a long while ago. Trick or Treat, yes! we were only allowed to call on people who knew us though, being at night. Mum would then come and fetch me from my friend's house when we'd finished. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lemmy117 Posted October 31, 2022 Author Share Posted October 31, 2022 Thanks for the replies, seems Edmund has the answer. Nigel L Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Worrall Posted October 31, 2022 Share Posted October 31, 2022 Hi Everybody, I'm another person whose never heard of 'Cakey Night'. However, I do remember Mischief Night (Nov 4) although I think about it more as a West Yorkshire event. My Great Uncle who lived in Consiborough used to say the garden gate would get taken off and Bonfires would get lit on Mischief Night. Also my friend Granville who came from Leeds used to talk about it. I don't think it was a big event in 1950/60's Intake? Wazzie Worrall Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ponytail Posted October 31, 2022 Share Posted October 31, 2022 10 hours ago, Paul Worrall said: Hi Everybody, I'm another person whose never heard of 'Cakey Night'. However, I do remember Mischief Night (Nov 4) although I think about it more as a West Yorkshire event. My Great Uncle who lived in Conisborough used to say the garden gate would get taken off and Bonfires would get lit on Mischief Night. Also my friend Granville who came from Leeds used to talk about it. I don't think it was a big event in 1950/60's Intake? Wazzie Worrall Thank you, that might explain it then, the lad I caught one Nov 4th before he had chance to damage my gate must have had his origins in Conisbrough or Leeds 😂🤣🤣he told me it was Mischief Night. Must have told his mates because for years after it was the night to have your doors and windows egged and anything was a target to be vandalised.... Unless of course the wicked witch caught em at it first. 😂🤣🤣🤣🤣 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Worrall Posted November 2, 2022 Share Posted November 2, 2022 Wonderful - I'm looking forward to this Friday!! Wazzie Worrall Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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