One of the favourite pastimes of bachelors was getting up to mischief late at night, either alone paying a visit to a sweetheart (Kiltgang) or in groups. Disguising their voices and covering their faces, they would try to beg a cup of coffee, act as self-appointed moral censors or engage in all kinds of horseplay.

These escapades would often cause trouble between rival gangs and sometimes ended bloodily. In a protocol from Engelberg dated 31st May 1733, under the heading «Court order because of night-time misbehaviour and disturbances», the following was noted about such a 'gang': «the punishable behaviour of pranksters and mischief-makers who not only made abusive remarks and used aggressive language, but even used swords, knives, sticks and stones to find and hound each other, putting not only themselves in danger but also honest folk….is controversial and dishonourable.»

As a rule the «Kiltgang» or «night visiting» was fairly harmless. The young men of marriageable age would sneak out at nightfall to the house of their sweethearts and, using a disguised voice and often speaking in verse, would beg to enter or at least exchange a few words through the window. If the 'night visitor' came from another village he had to be careful not to be caught by local pranksters in which case his amorous adventures would have certainly ended on the manure heap or even in the cesspit.