Unruhnächte#

Unruhnaechte, "nights of unrest" (also "Bosheitsnaechte"/"nights of malice" or "Stoernaechte"/"nights of harassment") and corresponding activities were closely connected with the rural Burschenschaften and their "Ruegerecht" ("right of reprimand" in case of dissipated life or careless husbandry). In these nights young men not only played pranks but also mischievous tricks on people; these traditional customs ranged from hiding or putting away agricultural implements, which turned up again on the village square, on trees or roofs, to making love affairs public by "marking" the route between the homes of the two lovers. The nights before May 1 (Lower Austria), Easter and Whitsun Sunday or Monday (Upper Austria, Salzburg, Styria) were most common. Today Unruhnaechte and related customs have all but died out.

Literature#