Medieval Mania: The Bizarre Phenomenon of “Saint John’s Dance”
St. John's Dance, also known as the "Dancing Plague," stands as one of the most enigmatic and perplexing occurrences in medieval European history. This peculiar phenomenon, which saw groups of people dancing uncontrollably for extended periods, has puzzled historians and scholars for centuries. Its origins, causes, and consequences provide a fascinating glimpse into the social and medical history of Europe.
The earliest recorded instance of St. John's Dance dates back to the 7th century, but it is most famously documented during the late medieval period, particularly in the 14th and 16th centuries. The most notable outbreak occurred in July 1518 in Strasbourg, then part of the Holy Roman Empire. Frau Troffea, a resident of Strasbourg, suddenly began dancing fervently in the streets. Her unrestrained movements continued for days, and within a week, dozens of others had joined her. Contemporary reports suggest that the dancers seemed unable to stop, often collapsing from exhaustion, only to resume their frantic motions shortly after.
These episodes were not confined to Strasbourg alone. Similar outbreaks were reported across Europe, from the Rhine Valley to the Netherlands, and even in parts of Italy. The communal and contagious nature of these events drew the attention of both local authorities and scholars, who sought to understand the underlying causes.
Eyewitness accounts describe the scenes of the dancing plagues with a mix of horror and fascination. Participants, often appearing in a trance-like state, danced relentlessly for days, sometimes weeks. They exhibited a range of symptoms, including extreme exhaustion, muscle spasms, hallucinations, and in severe cases, death due to heart attack, stroke, or sheer physical fatigue. The dancers seemed oblivious to their surroundings, and their movements ranged from frenzied jumping and hopping to more rhythmic steps that resembled traditional dances of the time.
Medical practitioners of the era, such as the renowned Paracelsus, attempted to treat the afflicted with various methods, from bloodletting to herbal remedies. Religious interventions were also common, with processions and prayers being organized in hopes of divine intervention. In some regions, musicians were even hired to accompany the dancers, in a bizarre attempt to control the rhythm and perhaps guide the dance to a less harmful conclusion.
According to The Black Death and The Dancing Mania, originally published in 1888. In the book, Justus Friedrich Karl Hecker imaginatively describes the spectacle of St. John's dance as follows:
They formed circles hand in hand, and appearing to have lost all control over their senses, continued dancing, regardless of the bystanders, for hours together, in wild delirium, until at length they fell to the ground in a state of exhaustion. They then complained of extreme oppression, and groaned as if in the agonies of death, until they were swathed in cloths bound tightly round their waists, upon which they again recovered, and remained free from complaint until the next attack.
The causes of St. John's Dance have been the subject of intense debate and speculation. Several theories have been proposed over the centuries:
Ergotism: One of the most widely accepted theories involves ergot poisoning, caused by consuming rye contaminated with the fungus Claviceps purpurea. Ergot contains alkaloids that can induce hallucinations, convulsions, and other symptoms akin to those observed in the dancing plagues. Historian John Waller, in his extensive research, supports this hypothesis, noting the correlation between the regions affected by the dance and those with a history of ergot outbreaks.
Mass Hysteria: Another plausible explanation is mass psychogenic illness, or mass hysteria. This theory suggests that the dancing plagues were a form of collective psychological response to the extreme stress and hardships of the time. Europe in the medieval period was rife with famine, disease (notably the Black Death), and social upheaval. The shared trauma could have triggered a communal, uncontrollable expression of anxiety and distress through dance.
Religious and Superstitious Beliefs: The medieval mindset, deeply rooted in religious and superstitious beliefs, may have also played a crucial role. St. Vitus, the patron saint of dancers, was often invoked during these episodes. Some believed that the dance was a curse or divine punishment, leading afflicted individuals to dance until absolution or divine mercy was granted. The association with religious festivals, particularly around the feast day of St. John the Baptist, further underscores the spiritual dimensions of this phenomenon.
Numerous anecdotes from the time illustrate the bizarre and tragic nature of St. John's Dance. One account from Strasbourg in 1518 describes how authorities, desperate to curb the epidemic, constructed a stage and hired professional dancers and musicians, hoping that organized, supervised dancing would exhaust the participants and bring an end to the chaos. Instead, it seemed to exacerbate the situation, drawing even more people into the frenzy.
A chronicler from Aachen, writing about an earlier outbreak in 1374, noted with bewilderment:
“Many of these people danced until they broke their ribs and suffered acute abdominal pain, shrieking in agony and eventually succumbing to death.”
The Dancing Plague remains a topic of scholarly intrigue due to its multifaceted nature. As Professor Robert E. Bartholomew aptly puts it,
"St. John's Dance is a window into the psychological and social landscapes of the medieval mind. It forces us to consider the powerful intersection of belief, environment, and the human psyche."
St. John's Dance is a testament to the complexities of human behaviour and the enduring mysteries of history. Whether seen as a consequence of environmental factors, psychological stress, or deep-seated religious beliefs, it serves as a poignant reminder of how collective experiences can manifest in extraordinary and, at times, inexplicable ways. The dance may have ended centuries ago, but the questions it raises continue to captivate and challenge scholars to this day.
Sources
Waller, John. A Time to Dance, a Time to Die: The Extraordinary Story of the Dancing Plague of 1518. Icon Books, 2008.
Bartholomew, Robert E., and Erich Goode. Mass Hysteria in Schools: A Worldwide History Since 1566. McFarland, 2000.
Hecker, Justus Friedrich Karl. The Epidemics of the Middle Ages. Trübner & Co., 1888.
Dyer, Thomas G. The Dance of Death and Other Plant Poisonings. Indiana University Press, 1986.