History Schmistory: June 24. Dance Fever.

1374: The town of Aachen, Germany experiences a massive outbreak of St. John’s Dance, aka the Dancing Plague, a mass psychogenic illness (MPI) of the 14th – 17th centuries that actually caused large groups of people to dance uncontrollably until they passed out.  Many can still be found at a Phish concert near you.

 

History Schmistory: June 25. Custer Bites the Bighorn.

1876: the ill-fated Battle of Little Bighorn culminates in the death of Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer. Gary Larson said it best:

History Schmistory, June 25: There’s Hope for a Magical Pope!

253 – St. Lucius I began his reign as Catholic Pope. This was before he fell in love with the dark arts & started working for Voldem…I mean, You-Know-Who!

What do you mean I can’t bring my wand to church?

 

History Schmistory, June 24: Dance Dance Revolution!

1374 – A sudden outbreak of St. John’s Dance caused people in the streets of Aachen, Germany, to experience hallucinations and begin to jump and twitch uncontrollably until they collapse from exhaustion.This phenomena, know as “Dancing Mania” spread throughout Europe over the next few decades.

And still continues to effect “victims” all over the world today…

 

 

History Schmistory: June 23. Frrreeeedooooooom!!!

1314: Battle of Bannockburn begins. With the losses of great patriots like Andrew de Moray and William Wallace still weighing heavily on their hearts, Robert the Bruce leads his troops to victory, winning Scottish Independence from England, and an Oscar for Mel Gibson.

"My BraveHeart" by  Loren Kerns / CC BY

“My BraveHeart” by Loren Kerns / CC BY

 

History Schmistory, June 22: Hey! That’s My Bay!

1611 – Henry Hudson was set adrift in Hudson Bay by mutineers on his ship, the Discovery, & was never seen again.

Or was he?

Mwuahahahah!

History Schmistory: June 22. The Louis and Marie Show

1791: The fleeing King Louis XVI of France and his wife, Marie Antoinette, are caught at a bridge over the river Varennes and returned to Paris. Not a good place to be-headed…
By Jean Duplessis-Bertaux (1750-1818), d'après un dessin de Jean-Louis Prieur. Reproduction par P. G. Berthault dans les Tableaux historiques de la Révolution française. ([1]) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

By Jean Duplessis-Bertaux (1750-1818), d’après un dessin de Jean-Louis Prieur. Reproduction par P. G. Berthault dans les Tableaux historiques de la Révolution française. ([1]) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

History Schmistory: June 21. Gorillas in the Fog.

1876: The first Gorilla arrives on British soil. Sings a few verses of “Rule, Britannia!”

 

 

'Happy to be here?' 'Gorilla' by Matthias Appel," CC BY

‘Happy to be here?’
‘Gorilla’ by Matthias Appel,” CC BY

History Schmistory, June 21: Sun, You’re In Trouble!

1633 – Galileo Galilei was forced by Inquisition to “abjure, curse, & detest” his Copernican heliocentric views (the view that the  planets revolve around the sun). I guess some people couldn’t handle the thought of not being in the spot light! However, Galileo can now relax & galiLAY out to enjoy the sun, which we now know, is the real star of the show!

Look who gets to say “I told you so!”

History Schmistory: June 20. Hide the Sausage.

1866 – Italy declares war on Austria. Austro-Prussian War begins. Many skip breakfast.

IMAGE: www.historicalnews.com

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