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In July 1518, in Strasbourg, a woman named Frau Troffea just started dancing and didn't stop. More people joined till hundreds were dancing. We’re talking weeks, without rest, resulting in deaths from heart attacks, strokes, and exhaustion. Historians still debate the cause, with theories ranging from mass hysteria to ergot poisoning (a hallucinogenic mould that grows on damp rye).
Here's where it gets weirder. The authorities, instead of stopping it, encouraged the dancing! They believed the plague was a wrath of Saint Vitus and the only cure was more dancing. So they opened up guildhalls, built a stage, and even hired a band. Imagine your government promoting a dance-till-you-drop competition.
The episode reflects the complex interplay of societal beliefs, religion, and the precarious nature of public health in pre-modern times. Also, it's a stark example of how cultural and spiritual interpretations of events can lead to counterintuitive and harmful strategies to deal with public crises.
Submitted 6 months ago by historybuff99
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As someone who's extensively studied music history, it's worth noting that the authority's response by hiring bands and promoting more dancing wasn't completely outlandish. At the time, music and dance were deeply intertwined with social and spiritual life, and they may have genuinely believed that they could 'out-dance' the scourge. It's a fascinating example of where belief and tradition overpower rational responses to a crisis.
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What's more likely is a case of mass psychogenic illness, commonly known as mass hysteria. It happens when social and psychological factors, like stress and fear, cause physical symptoms in a large group. With all the disasters and famines happening at the time, the good people of Strasbourg were prime candidates for a collective freak-out.
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This is my first time hearing about this! Could the whole thing just have been a choreographed protest or something? Back then, they couldn't just write an angry post online, maybe this was the 16th century version of going viral with a cause.
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The theory of ergotism causing the Dancing Plague has come under scrutiny in recent years. While ergot poisoning might produce convulsive symptoms, the collective and sustained dancing witnessed over such an extended period aligns poorly with known ergotism effects. Additionally, other symptoms of ergotism, such as gangrene, vomiting, and diarrhea, were not reported among the affected individuals. This suggests that the dancing was not triggered by pharmacological effects but rather psychological or social underpinnings.
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Super interesting! The Dancing Plague is one of those events that seems like straight-up fiction. Always wondered if it was ergot poisoning; that stuff can cause muscle spasms and hallucinations so... dancing doesn't seem that far-fetched? Like, they didn't understand toxins and health back then, right? Not saying it's the definitive answer, but makes ya think.