It’s that time of year, when the humidity drops, the tailgate parties gear up, and residents start planning their Halloween costumes.

It’s also “White Wednesday” season.

Ask anyone, and chances are they’ve been toilet-papered or participated in the prank at least once in their lifetime.

Houses in Eden Isles and Cross Gates, among others, were festooned with toilet paper in advance of Pope John Paul II High School'€™s homecoming game. (Staff Photo by Anne Lautzenheiser)

Even celebrities are prey, such as reality-TV star Kim Kardashian, whose house was rolled earlier this summer.

In Slidell, the annual tradition takes place the Wednesday before a local high school homecoming game. Students visit the homes of their classmates and distribute roll upon roll of toilet paper. While most wait until nightfall, others are brazen enough to do the deed in broad daylight.

That was the case for Slidell resident Cheryl Scaglione, whose Quail Ridge home was adorned Wednesday afternoon.

“I came home about 5 p.m., and they were just leaving,” said Scaglione, whose son is a student at Pope John Paul II High School. “Most of the kids in this neighborhood go to Northshore, so we may be cleaning this up next week, too.”

No one seems to know when the tradition started. Capt. Kevin Foltz has been with the Slidell Police Department for 24 years and said it’s been going on for at least that long.

Foltz said there have been very few complaints from homeowners over the years.

While there have been some reports of eggs being tossed or dish detergent in outdoor fountains, as long as there is no serious property damage, it’s generally regarded as a harmless prank.

“If they do anything that might fall under criminal mischief, or they are driving recklessly, then we’ll take action,” said Foltz. “As long as it’s only toilet paper, there’s really no cause to worry.”

Foltz, whose son, Tyler, is a sophomore at Northshore, said his house received the treatment last year.

He was home at the time and was bemused to find the father of one of the students waiting at the curb. Parents or other family members apparently serve as chauffeurs for the event quite often, and Foltz feels that’s a positive thing.

“Having an adult there, they can keep an eye on things,” he said. “That way if there’s a problem, the parent can step in and take care of it.”

The yearly ritual has come to be a sign of status for those who are targeted, and in some cases the students who’ve done the deed come back to assist with cleanup.

Tips abound for removing the damp strands, from using a hose to wash it from the trees to setting it alight.

Apparently the thin tissue disintegrates before it can generate much heat, but Foltz said it’s still risky, and he doesn’t recommend burning as a method of disposal.

“Rake up as much as you can, then just turn a hose on and aim it at the places you can’t reach,” he said. “It will fall apart that way, and you can rake up the rest.”