European history tells the stories of two events that has researchers still baffled as to the cause. Choreomania – the Dancing Plague overtook the residents of Aachen, Germany on this day in 1374. Citizens “started to pour out of their houses and into the streets where they began to writhe and whirl uncontrollably.”1
Strasbourg, located in what is now France, experienced a similar occurrence in 1518. “This particular outbreak began with a single woman whose identity remains uncertain, although several chronicles name her as Frau Troffea. Following an argument with her husband, Frau Troffea supposedly started dancing in the street, continuing to do so for six days until she was bloodied and bruised. At that point, the authorities stepped in and took her away to a holy shrine.
“However, just days later, 34 more people were struck with the uncontrollable urge to move their bodies and dance until they dropped.”2
In both events, dancers heard music that no one else could hear. Based on reports, it doesn’t sound like the dance marathons of old where discernable dances were seen like the Jitterbug, Charleston, Fox Trot, the Lindy Hop, waltz, and tango. Instead, individuals in Aachen and Strasbourg seemed to be more convulsive, writhing without rhythm.
Causes of the phenomenon have been debated with medical or hysteria theories easily debunked. The most plausible theory isn’t taken seriously by historians who seem to ignore what the “dancers” were saying. In 1888, Justus Friedrich Karl Hecker wrote The Black Death and The Dancing Mania. Consider what he wrote!
“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.”3
Robert E. Bartholomew, in an article for the July/August 2000 issue of Skeptical Inquirer, wrote: “Radulphus de Rivo’s chronicle Decani Tongrensis states that “in their songs they uttered the names of devils never before heard of . . . this strange sect.” Petrus de Herenthal writes in Vita Gregorii XI: “There came to Aachen . . . a curious sect.” The Chronicon Belgicum Magnumdescribes the participants as “a sect of dancers.”4
It sounds to me that what happened in Aachen and Strasbourgh was of a demonic nature. It sounds very similar to what happened at different places in the Bible.
1 Kings 18:25-29 says, “And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under. (26) And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made. (27) And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked. (28) And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them. (29) And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.”
An earlier Biblical event involved the children of Israel. Moses had delayed coming down from the mount where he went to meet with God and to receive the Ten Commandments. Exodus 32:1-2 says, “And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. (2) And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me.”
As Moses came down from the mount with the tables of stone in hand, he heard quite a commotion and ruckus. What did he see as he drew close to the camp? “And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses’ anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount.” (Exodus 32:19)
Believing that Satan and demons exist with the power to work miracles is not some religious superstition. It is factual and Biblical. Demons have not been medicated into oblivion. Psychoanalysis hasn’t talked them away. Science and education hasn’t provided us with better information and explanation. If anything, they have all dulled our senses to what the Bible clearly teaches.
Make no mistake, Christian. We are in the midst of spiritual warfare and it must be fought on Biblical terms. Take to heart Ephesians 6:10-13 and prepare for the battle at hand.
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. (11) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (12) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (13) Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
1https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/strange-case-dancing-mania-struck-germany-six-centuries-ago-today-180959549/
2https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2022/12/the-unsolved-mystery-of-the-medieval-dancing-plague-728701
3https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/strange-case-dancing-mania-struck-germany-six-centuries-ago-today-180959549/
4Ibid.
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