In the summer of 1518, a bizarre and unbelievable event took place in the city of Strasbourg, which is now part of modern-day France. This strange happening is known as the Dancing Plague of 1518, and it is exactly what it sounds like people in the city started dancing uncontrollably, and some of them danced for days, until they collapsed from exhaustion. A few even died because of it. What caused these people to dance like that? That’s a question historians and scientists are still trying to answer, even today.
How It All Started
The story begins in July 1518, when a woman, whose name was recorded as Frau Troffea, stepped into the streets of Strasbourg and started dancing. She was not dancing for fun or celebration—she seemed to be doing it against her will. According to reports from the time, she danced for several days without stopping, until she collapsed from exhaustion. But strangely, her actions didn’t stop there.
Within a week, dozens of other people joined her, also dancing uncontrollably in the streets. At first, the townspeople were confused and alarmed, but soon, more and more people began to join this “dance.” Within a month, around 400 people had been affected by the mysterious dancing. These people could not stop themselves, and many of them danced for days on end, without rest. Several of them collapsed, and some even died from exhaustion, heart attacks, or strokes.
The authorities of Strasbourg were as puzzled as the people. At first, they believed the dancers were suffering from a kind of illness that could only be cured by more dancing. In a strange attempt to “cure” the affected people, they set up special stages and even hired musicians to play music for the dancers, thinking that if they let the people dance it out, they would eventually get better.
However, this plan didn’t work. Instead of helping, it made things worse. More people joined in, and the dancing continued. The city was in panic. Some believed that the event was a curse or a punishment from God. In particular, people believed that the dancers were under the curse of St. Vitus, the patron saint of dancers. At that time, it was common for people to think that saints had the power to curse or heal, and St. Vitus was often blamed for similar events.
Assumptions on What Caused the Dancing Plague
Even today, no one knows for sure what caused the Dancing Plague of 1518. There are several theories, but none of them fully explain why this strange event happened.
1. Mass Hysteria (Psychogenic Illness)
One popular theory is that the event was caused by mass hysteria, also known as mass psychogenic illness. This happens when a group of people experiences the same physical or emotional symptoms, even though there is no physical cause. In 1518, Strasbourg was going through a tough time. The region had been hit by famine and disease, and many people were suffering from extreme stress, hunger, and fear. Some historians believe that this stress could have triggered a kind of psychological outbreak, where people began dancing uncontrollably because of their mental and emotional state.
Mass hysteria has been documented in other parts of history, where groups of people suddenly develop similar symptoms, even though there is no clear medical reason for it. It’s possible that the people of Strasbourg, overwhelmed by their difficult situation, experienced a collective breakdown that led to the dancing plague.
2. Ergot Poisoning (St. Anthony’s Fire)
Another theory is that the people of Strasbourg were victims of ergot poisoning. Ergot is a type of fungus that grows on damp rye grain. When people eat bread made from contaminated rye, they can experience symptoms such as hallucinations, muscle spasms, and seizures. Ergot contains chemicals similar to LSD, a powerful hallucinogenic drug.
This theory suggests that the people who danced were experiencing the effects of ergot poisoning, which caused them to hallucinate and lose control of their bodies. Ergot poisoning, also known as St. Anthony’s Fire, was not uncommon in medieval Europe, and it could explain some of the strange behaviors seen during the dancing plague. However, it doesn’t fully explain why people danced for such long periods or why so many people were affected at the same time.
3. Religious and Superstitious Beliefs
During the 16th century, people’s lives were deeply influenced by religion and superstition. Many believed in the power of saints, curses, and divine punishment. Some people in Strasbourg believed that the dancing plague was caused by St. Vitus, the patron saint of dancers. According to legend, if someone angered St. Vitus, they could be cursed to dance uncontrollably.
Because of these beliefs, people may have thought that the only way to break the curse was to keep dancing. This could have created a kind of self-fulfilling prophecy, where people danced because they believed they were cursed, and their actions caused more and more people to join in.
Eventually, the authorities changed their approach. Instead of encouraging more dancing, they banned all public dancing and closed the music halls. The afflicted dancers were taken to a shrine dedicated to St. Vitus, where they prayed for healing. After some time, the dancing plague gradually came to an end, and the dancers either recovered or disappeared from the records.
No one knows exactly how many people died as a result of the dancing plague, but contemporary reports suggest that a number of them succumbed to exhaustion, heart failure, or strokes.
The Dancing Plague of 1518 is one of the most mysterious and unusual events in history. While historians have come up with several theories to explain what happened, no one knows for sure why hundreds of people danced uncontrollably in the streets of Strasbourg. Whether it was caused by mass hysteria, a strange disease, or something else entirely, the event remains a fascinating and puzzling chapter in the story of human history. For centuries, people have been intrigued by this bizarre plague, and it continues to capture the imagination of researchers, writers, and the public. The Dancing Plague serves as a reminder of how little we still know about the human mind, and how the past can sometimes feel as strange as any work of fiction.
