Hello, Mystery Fans! Welcome to another stop in the Mystery Month tour on my blog. I am so glad you are here! If you want to see the full list of topics click here. We have tackled several topics already, Amelia Earhart and Jack the Ripper, and The Amber Room. Today I am looking back through the pages of history to an unusual event that happened in a small town in 1518.
The event caused widespread confusion, chaos and lasted for about a month. Interestingly enough, doctors and historians still are unsure about what exactly caused the outbreak. This rare and strange event even caused many deaths. The exact number is unknown but totals are estimated as high as 15 people per day.
So what HAPPENED?
It is known as the Dancing Plague of 1518. Yes, you read that correctly. A dancing plague. It started with a woman named Frau (Mrs.) Troffea or Trauffea, history gives two different spellings.
In July 1518 Frau Troffea stepped into the street and started dancing. Many of the townspeople thought she was just jolly and even admired her zest, but soon they realized this was not a “just for fun” activity. Frau Troffea kept dancing, without stopping or resting for six days straight, after a brief rest she continued as before.
The dancing plague spread and within a week 34 people joined the dance. Within a month 400 of the townspeople were dancing. It is reported that as many as 15 people per day were dying of strokes, heart attacks, and sheer exhaustion. The town leaders, believing that more dancing would be the cure to whatever had affected the people, gave orders for a stage to be built and to bring in musicians and professional dancers to help those afflicted to keep dancing. Shockingly that did not stop the plague.
Imagine for a second, all that activity, non-stop, for days on end. I am certain injuries happened; pain and swelling, muscle cramps, ankles twisted, but yet the dancing continued…despite any injuries.
The musicians and professional dancers did not have the intended effect and the dancing continued as before, much to the dismay of the town leaders. The dancing continued and as suddenly as it began it ended in late August or early September. It is estimated that 400 people died in the event.
What caused the dancing plague?
This is where historians walk into muddy waters, the exact cause of the mania is unknown. There are some educated guesses, but at the end of the day, it is still a guess. Below are the most popular theories.
- According to John Waller, it was a cause of mass hysteria caused by extreme levels of psychological distress. The town had experienced wide-spread famines, plus smallpox, syphilis, and leprosy were spreading and causing concern for the town. Waller believes all this combined caused the mass hysteria.
- Physicians of the day believed that the dancing plague was a case of “hot blood” and the cure was “blood-letting” and the withdrawal of the bad blood. It was thought that the hot blood could overheat the brain, which in turn could cause madness and rage.
- Some investigators of the event proposed it could be contaminated rye flour. They believe the rye contained the fungal disease, ergot (sort of a natural LSD), which could cause seizures, convulsions, and hallucinations. This theory has been doubted since ergot, restricts blood flow to the arms and legs, which would leave the person unable to dance.
- This one is my favorite. A physician and alchemist, Paracelsus, visited the town years after the event. It was his opinion that Frau Troffea started dancing to embarrass her husband, Herr Troffea. The others who joined in the dance also wanted to cause embarrassment and shame on their husbands. Paracelsus believed they were spurred on by lewd and free thoughts.
In conclusion…
It is rather still a mystery on what actually caused the dancing plague in Strasbourg. As suddenly as it began it also ended and townspeople went back to their normal lives. It amazes me that they danced through injury, through people falling down, passing out, and even dying around them. Whatever caused it, it was more than, I believe, women dancing to be annoying to their husbands.
What do you think? Why do you think people spent a month dancing in the streets? I would love to hear from you in the comments below. Do you have a mystery that you want me to learn about? Let me know that too.
Until next time,
Kimberly
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