Massachusetts and the Origin of Cabbage Night

In Massachusetts, the night before Halloween has often been known for mischief. Although originally connected to Halloween, during the early 1900s, as a quest to turn Halloween into a safer holiday, communities, mischief was eventually abandoned for more fun traditions, including trick-or-treating.

However - sadly- some people still tried to hold onto the mischief making and relegated it to October 30. 

Massachusetts is the home to one community that may have helped to install the tradition of Cabbage Night (at least the name). Framingham, Massachusetts, located in the MetroWest, is home to one of the earliest mention of the terms cabbage night. In the 1930s, when tricks we moved from Halloween night to October 30, it was noted that teenagers in Framingham - like other teenagers in the commonwealth - continued the tradition of playing tricks.

 One of the common tricks played in the town involved a cabbage. Now, a cabbage was thought to foretell the future. By pulling apart a cabbage one could tell what a future spouse might be like (exactly how is left to the imagination and was not included in sources).  In Framingham, in the 1930s, teens still held onto the idea of using cabbage. However, they would pull it out of people's gardens and through it at their front door, then run.

The night in Framingham quickly became known as Cabbage Night. The term was definitely used in towns nearby, including Natick, and has stuck to this day. 

So, if you ever hear the term Cabbage Night, know, in part, that it is connected to the town of Framingham, Massachusetts.

Check out more from these sources.

Legends and Lore of Framingham
Huffington Post