So way back when, well 1518 to be specific, the jitterbug took over Strasbourg, France... Literally. For reasons still relatively unknown, hundreds of people began to dance uncontrollably, without stopping for up to a month. People actually died from this. Starvation, exhaustion, and heart failure lead the pack - at least, if you believe the rumors. While it might not be clear how many people died, if any at all, what is clear is that the dancing plague took over. It sounds ridiculous, right? Well, believe or not, I'm not messing with you. Notes from the time confirm that this actually happened.
What if I told you that this wasn't the first time, either? Yes, it happened at least ten time prior to this, all within the same region. We also have the laughing plague from Africa, which affected about 1000 people. Uncontrollable laughter swept through villages and mission schools and young women could not stop laughing, some lasting up to 16 days. That seems almost worse than dancing for a month. Either way, it's terrible.
There are many theories as to what happened in order to cause these epidemics, from mass hysteria, to shared psychogenic experiences, to some funky fungus that got thrown into the food supply. But, despite all the theories, we don't have any definitive answers, just some fun guesses! But, for the full story, you'll just have to listen.
Our sponsor: www.morbidlybeautiful.com
Merch: www.redbubble.com/people/HorrorShots
Youtube
Twitch: www.twitch.tv/muskyfaux
Website: www.horrorshots.com
Instagram: ominousoriginspod
Twitter: @horrorshotsprod
Facebook: Horrorshots
Patreon: www.patreon.com/horrorshots
Love and War | Ishtar
The Biggest Finger You’ve Ever Been Flipped
The Exorcism of Anneliese Michel
The Obligatory Update - 2023 Editon
Don’t Go Night Swimming | Michelle Von Emster
Operation Midnight Climax
Ourang Medan | The Ship That Never Was
Some People Suck | Richard Speck
My Apartment Caught On Fire | Let’s Talk About Another One
Jaws, But In Real Life | The Shark Arm Murder
Road Trip Gone Wrong | Jamison Family Disappearance
Chat GPT Helped Solve The Somerton Man
The Sun, The Light, and the Moon | Greek Goddess Theia
Family Feud | George Arsoniadis
This Is Why I Hate Water | The Bluebelle
Sadly Natalie Wood Didn’t Float
Real Life Respawn? | The Pollock Twins
Every Toronto Hockey Fan’s Worst Nightmare | Matthew Hoffman, The Leaf Killer
Oni Oni Oni! | The Oni
Weird Suspects In A Weird Case | Dardeen Family Murders Final
Join Podbean Ads Marketplace and connect with engaged listeners.
Advertise Today
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Mortal Musings Podcast
True Crime Investigators UK
Scaredycast
Dateline NBC
Crime Junkie