People who danced to death and laughed until they fainted: why did it happen?  

History is filled with strange and inexplicable events, some of which defy rational explanation even today. Among the most mysterious are the "Dance of Death" and the "Laughter Epidemic." This article explores these bizarre phenomena, which occurred in different places and times.  

             "Dance of death"  

In July 1518, a woman named Troffea, a resident of Strasbourg (then part of the Holy Roman Empire, now in France), suddenly began dancing in the streets without music. Her unusual behavior left onlookers bewildered. Within a week, 30 more people joined her, and soon, the number of dancers swelled to 400.  

Some historical sources claim that people danced with such intensity that their feet bled. The constant movement caused many to collapse from exhaustion, and some even died. This strange phenomenon became known as the "Dance of Saint John" because participants reportedly shouted his name while dancing. Terrified priests believed the dancers were possessed by demons and attempted to stop the outbreak by forcing the afflicted to repent, but their efforts proved ineffective.  

                        Plague survivor’s ritual?  

While shocking, similar outbreaks of compulsive dancing were recorded across Central Europe between the 14th and 16th centuries. Some historians suggest these incidents were linked to the devastating impact of the Black Death (1340-1350), which wiped out approximately 60% of Europe’s population, leaving many towns in ruins. Unable to cope with the horrors of famine and disease, some people may have sought spiritual purification through self-inflicted suffering.  

For instance, in 1360, a group of women in Lausitz (on the border of Bohemia) reportedly "lost their senses" and began dancing in front of a statue of the Virgin Mary. However, this episode was short-lived.  

Fourteen years later, the city of Aachen experienced another large-scale dancing epidemic. What initially appeared to be joyful movement quickly spiraled into uncontrollable frenzy. The dancers did not stop, even when their bodies could no longer endure the strain. This condition became known as "Choreomania" (from the Greek words for "dance" and "madness").  

                 Fear of demon possession  

According to historian Petrus de Herental, victims of choreomania danced in the streets, homes, marketplaces, and even inside churches. Another chronicler, Bzovius, provided an even more terrifying description:  

"People would leave their homes and communities, foam at the mouth, collapse from exhaustion, only to rise again and continue dancing until they perished. Some died in violent convulsions."  

A few weeks after the Aachen outbreak, an even more extraordinary event took place near Trier. Thousands of people gathered in the forests, forming what resembled a small settlement. Stripping off their clothes, they adorned themselves with wreaths and danced endlessly. Church authorities, convinced that these individuals were possessed, subjected many to exorcisms. While the epidemic eventually ended, it remains uncertain whether religious intervention played a role or if the dancers simply succumbed to starvation and exhaustion.  

      What caused these bizarre episodes?  

Over the past five centuries, numerous theories have been proposed. Some suggest that the dancers belonged to secret religious sects, while others speculate that they suffered from neurological disorders. One theory proposes that the victims were unknowingly poisoned by ergot fungus, a hallucinogenic mold that can grow on rye and cause convulsions.  

However, what makes the case particularly puzzling is that the affected individuals appeared to have lost all bodily control and exhibited extreme endurance, dancing for days or even weeks without stopping. This suggests a possible connection to nervous system disorders.

Before the 1518 outbreak, Strasbourg had been devastated by plague, famine, and syphilis. The severe stress and hardship of daily life could have played a role in triggering mass hysteria. Yet, what drove hundreds of people to strip naked and dance uncontrollably along the banks of the Rhine in Aachen remains an enduring mystery.  

            "Laughter epidemic"  

Though cases of mass hysteria no longer involve dancing, similar phenomena continue to be recorded in modern times. One of the most famous examples is the "Laughter Epidemic" that broke out in 1962 in Tanganyika (now Tanzania).  

It began in a girls' school with just one student laughing, seemingly out of nervousness. However, the laughter spread rapidly to other students, triggering an uncontrollable wave of hysteria. Eventually, the outbreak extended beyond the school, affecting neighboring villages. The situation became so severe that 14 schools had to be temporarily shut down.  

Victims experienced uncontrollable fits of laughter and crying, lasting anywhere from a few hours to as long as 16 days. In extreme cases, people collapsed from exhaustion. Some individuals exhibited erratic behavior such as running aimlessly or displaying sudden aggression. Despite extensive medical examinations, no physical cause was ever identified.  

           Was it all psychological?  

Although researchers have not found sufficient evidence to classify such paranormal events as psychological disorders, they believe that both the Dance of Death and the Laughter Epidemic occurred during times of social and economic hardship. The dancing outbreaks followed periods of famine and plague, while the laughter epidemic took place in a newly independent nation experiencing poverty and uncertainty.  

Psychologists suggest that when faced with extreme stress, people may unconsciously resort to physical expressions such as crying, screaming, or even destructive behavior. In these cases, uncontrollable dancing and laughter may have served as an involuntary coping mechanism for collective trauma.  

While many questions remain unanswered, these historical outbreaks serve as eerie reminders of the fragile connection between the mind and body—and the mysteries of mass hysteria that continue to puzzle scientists to this day.