The Last Dance Mania of the Medieval World

Imagine you were one of them...

In Strasbourg, in July 1518, the last big dancing plague took place. It was started by Frau Troffea, who, one day, left her house, went out on the street, and started moving in a way that many said resembled some kind of dance. Eventually, an exhausted middle-aged woman was dragged up the mountain to the Saint Vitus shrine, the patron saint of people with epilepsy, in the hope she'd stop. In the meantime, many others took to the streets dancing. By the summer's end, about 400 people were plagued with dancing, and some of them died.

If this event, and similar others that occurred throughout Europe, is still unexplained today, it is because historians have focused mainly on the lives and the doings of people in power, and for centuries, the rest of us were regarded (and discarded) as expandable.

The Dancing Plague of Strasbourg was an awkward occurrence even for the people of the time. But we know more about it because it involved a larger population over a few summer weeks, and city officials tried different methods to end the madness without success. Among other cases of choreomania, this is the best documented because of the recordings made by the council of Strasbourg and other eyewitnesses.

At the time, Strasbourg was a significant political and commercial center, a mix of cultural influences and traditions in the Holy Roman Empire at the French border. Its history goes back to the Roman Empire in the second century BC when it was called Argentoratum. The city was the capital of a free-standing republic controlled by guilds until 1681 when it was incorporated into the French kingdom. As for religion, the inhabitants were mainly Catholics except for pockets of the Jewish population. Just a few months before, on October 1517, Martin Luther revolutionized the religious landscape by posting his 95 Theses to reform the catholic church. Although his ideas spread like fire, aided by the new printing press technology, it would be a few more years before Strasbourg adhered to Protestantism. This is still important as Protestants do not recognize saints, and St Vitus was one of the protagonists in the dancing mania of 1518.

The dancing plague began in July 1518, when a woman known to us by the name of Frau Troffea began to dance uncontrollably, followed by dozens in just a week and jumping, within a month, to hundreds of people dancing compulsively. Both men and women, young and old, were affected, and many danced for days or even weeks. They danced restlessly and helplessly. Some collapsed, exhausted. Their feet were bruised, scratched, raw, infected. Some died of strokes or other causes.

Contemporaries tried to find the cause of this plague, and in doing so, they advanced numerous theories. From Paracelsus, who blamed women for trying to make fools of their husbands through this behavior, to the medics of medieval Strasbourg, who advanced the "overheated blood" theory, or simply, fever, they all tried to find an explanation for what was happening.

The hypotheses were wild, but the actions to stop it were insignificant. The Council of Strasbourg, after listening to their doctors who said that the cure rests in sweating the bad blood through…more dancing! decided to encourage the mania. So they cleared out the city's horse market space and built a dancing ring, encouraging people to join in, plagued or not. To make it seem more natural, they also hired musicians, tambourines, fiddlers, pipes, and so on, to sing the dancing tune. They copied the Tarantella example from Southern Italy, where people believed in curing spider bites by incessant dancing. But the dancing plague didn't stop. More people joined in, pretending to be entranced because the officials provided free food and drink. Some women even hope to cure infertility or other illnesses.

But a few days into this continuous dancing, weaker people started to die. One source records 15 deaths in one day. The authorities, seeing that the bad blood hadn't been eradicated, stopped the music and the voluntary choreomania, and dismantled the stage. They deduced that the physicians were wrong, and the affliction must be a curse—a damnation.

Officials took further measures like confining people to their homes and banning fine clothing and jewelry, and ultimately when everything else failed, they gathered the remaining maniacs, tied them up on carriages to prevent falls or running away, and climbed the steep hills that ascend the mountains to St. Vitus shrine. There, the dancers were given red shoes and left to the mercy of the Saint. We do not have information about what happened to them. It came to us that the city regained its normalcy shorter afterward, and no other case of the dancing plague was recorded in the region. As a fan fact, the last recorded choreomania case was in Madagascar in 1863.

Today, Strasbourg is the host for the Council of Europe, an organization created to protect democracy and human rights.

 

Here is a summary of the last big dancing plague of Europe:

The Dancing Plague of 1518, which took place in Strasbourg (Alsace), then part of the Holy Roman Empire, is one of history's most unusual and puzzling events. Here are some key facts about it:

1.    Outbreak Origin: The dancing plague began in July 1518 when a woman named Frau Troffea stepped into the streets of Strasbourg and began to dance uncontrollably. For a week, dozens of people joined her in this strange, compulsive dancing.

2.    Number of Participants: It is reported that 400 people were dancing within a month, seemingly unable to stop.

3.    Symptoms: Participants appeared to be in a trance-like state. They danced without rest, and many reportedly collapsed from exhaustion, with some even dying from heart attacks, strokes, or sheer fatigue.

4.    Attempts to Control It: Authorities in Strasbourg believed a fever or supernatural affliction caused the dancing. They initially tried to encourage the dancing by setting up music and professional dancers, hoping it would "burn itself out." This strategy backfired, as even more people were drawn into the plague.

5.    Religious Explanations: At the time, religious authorities believed the event was a punishment from St. Vitus, the patron saint of dancers and epileptics. People thought the dancers were cursed or had angered the Saint.

6.    Cures: Eventually, after other interventions failed, the authorities banned music and dancing and built a shrine for St. Vitus. The dancers were taken to the shrine, where religious rituals were performed to heal them.

7.    Possible Causes:

o   Mass Hysteria or Psychogenic Illness: Many modern historians and psychologists believe the event was a case of mass hysteria (now called mass psychogenic illness). People may have been under significant stress due to famine, disease, and harsh living conditions, and the outbreak was a physical manifestation of collective psychological distress.

o   Ergotism: Another theory suggests the dancing plague might have been caused by ergotism, a condition resulting from eating bread made from grain infected with ergot, a hallucinogenic mold. Ergot poisoning can cause convulsions and hallucinations, but this theory is debated since not all symptoms match.

8.    End of the Plague: After several weeks, the dancing gradually subsided. The plague ended by September 1518, but the event left a lasting mark on the region.

9.  Legacy: The Strasbourg dancing plague is one of the most famous examples of "dance mania" or "choreomania," a phenomenon recorded in various parts of medieval and early modern Europe. However, the 1518 outbreak was one of the largest and most well-documented instances.

This example of bizarre human behavior remains one of history's unsolved mysteries, as its exact causes are still debated. 

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Step Into a Victorian Bedroom: Décor, Daily Life, and Traditions

 

Sometimes, we wonder how people lived a long time ago, trying to wrap our heads around some strange traditions and questionable practices; other times, we are surprised at how similar our lives are and how little has changed. Take, for example, the bedroom. It had served the same basic purpose throughout history, except that its functionality had been enhanced or downgraded at times according to needs and, most importantly, trends. Let's look today at the Victorian bedroom - that is, in the Victorian Era in England between 1820 and 1914.

The bedroom, both in Victorian times and today, serves as a private, personal space for rest and retreat from the outside world. In both eras, the bedroom is where people unwind, sleep, and clean themselves, with furniture like beds, dressers, and mirrors remaining central. Though the décor and daily routines may differ, the bedroom's role as a space for intimacy, comfort, and personal rituals—whether it's dressing, reading, or simply resting—remains a constant. Let's enter the Victorian bedroom and take in the life of its occupant(s).

Queen Victoria's bedroom at Windsor Castle as painted by William Corden the Younger

First, furniture and Décor

Victorian bedrooms were known for their heavy, ornate furniture. Beds often featured intricately carved headboards made of dark woods like mahogany, oak, or walnut, and many had four posters or canopies. Beyond the bed, essential pieces included large wardrobes (closets were rare), washstands for morning ablutions, and dressing tables with mirrors. The upholstery was often plush, using rich fabrics like velvet and brocade in deep colors—crimson, burgundy, or dark greens. Oil lamps, brass candlesticks, and porcelain vases were standard for accessories. Decorative items like lace doilies and embroidered cushions added a feminine touch. Victorian walls were often covered in patterned wallpaper with floral motifs or damask prints. Popular colors included dark reds, golds, and greens, though paler hues like lavender were used in upper-class homes.

Daily Life in the Bedroom

In the Victorian era, bedrooms were multifunctional spaces, especially in middle—and upper-class homes. Morning and evening grooming rituals took place, particularly for women who spent significant time brushing their hair and applying face creams at their dressing tables. For men, too, it was a private space to dress, shave, and occasionally read.

Morning routines involved using washbasins and jugs of water to wash the face and hands. Hairbrushes, combs, and pomades for men and hairpins and perfume for women were arranged on dressing tables.

In more affluent homes, bedrooms were sometimes equipped with writing desks for letter writing or prayer books for personal devotions. Wealthy women might spend hours here, away from the bustle of household management.

Class Differences in Bedroom Layout

The wealthy's bedrooms were spacious, often featuring separate dressing rooms or even boudoirs attached for added privacy and comfort. Bedrooms might include large bay windows with heavy draperies, Persian rugs, and marble-topped washstands. Fireplaces were common in larger homes to keep the room warm.

In contrast, working-class families typically had far less space. They often shared bedrooms among several family members, and furnishing was minimal. Sometimes, several family members slept in a single bed. In rural or poorer urban homes, personal space was scarce, and the bedroom could double as storage or workspace. 

A Small Gentry Victorian Bedroom in Scotland

Health and Hygiene

Contemporary beliefs about health and hygiene also shaped the Victorian bedroom. Ventilation was a major concern, as many Victorians believed that "miasmas" (bad air) could cause illness. This led to installing windows that could open wide and fireplaces in bedrooms to ensure proper air circulation. Heavy drapes could be drawn to keep out cold drafts in winter.

Complete with a jug and basin, washstands were essential for washing up before bed. Toothbrushes and handkerchiefs were typically kept in the bedroom. Chamber pots, or night pots, were placed under beds or in cabinets for use during the night.

Bedrooms were often used for recovery when sick, with family members and servants bringing meals and tending to the sick person. Sick rooms were meticulously cleaned, and bed linens were changed frequently to prevent the spread of disease.

Privacy and Social Norms

The concept of privacy became more defined in the Victorian era. Bedrooms were seen as intimate, private spaces, especially in wealthier homes. They were off-limits to guests, and strict gender roles played a part in how they were used. Even married couples were used to having separate bedrooms, especially if the couple belonged to the upper class. This allowed each person to maintain their personal space while still enjoying shared intimacy when desired.

Children's rooms, when they had them, were often located in separate wings or on different floors. The Victorian ideal of childhood as a time of innocence meant that children's rooms were considered sacred spaces to shield them from adult concerns.

Victorian Children's Bedrooms

Victorian children's bedrooms were designed to reflect the era's emphasis on childhood innocence and discipline. Wealthier households often had these rooms brightly decorated, adding toys and small furniture. Cots, cradles, and small wooden chairs were common. Toy chests, dollhouses, and stuffed animals would also be found in the bedrooms of wealthier families. In a nursery room, you can often see wallpapers with floral or animal prints that stimulate a child's imagination.

Many children's bedrooms would contain educational materials such as alphabet blocks, small desks, and books to foster learning from an early age. For working-class children, however, toys were often homemade, and their "bedroom" might be a shared bed in a cramped space with their siblings.

Bedtime Rituals and Sleep

The Victorian approach to sleep was heavily ritualized. Wealthy Victorians took great care in their bedtime routines, often involving wearing specialized nightclothes like nightgowns, nightcaps, and slippers.

Women would remove their elaborate day clothing, often with the help of a maid, and dress in simple cotton nightgowns. Nightcaps were worn to keep the head warm, as the belief was that cold air caused illnesses. While the very wealthy might enjoy luxurious feather beds and linen sheets, the lower classes typically slept on straw mattresses or makeshift beds stuffed with hay or rags.

Some Victorians believed that too much light could disrupt sleep and cause illness, so heavy drapes or shutters were used to block out moonlight. In addition, night lights or candles were used to keep the room dimly lit for safety.

Victorian nightdress by Thomas Quine

This is just a general overview of the Victorian bedroom. But even during the conservative Queen Victoria's reign, things changed. Details were added or subtracted, habits acquired or dropped, ideas brought to life or buried. When your writing is set in a specific year or decade, it is advisable to look into details, especially if we are speaking about the lower classes, as much has changed due to the rapid industrialization of England's cities.

Check out this worksheet to help you in your research. 

The Victorian Bedroom: A Worksheet for Your Story

I also have a comprehensive guide and worksheet for extensive historical research. You can visit my store or buy it here.