Halloween. One of my favorite times of the year. Not for the costumes, although they can certainly be fun, or for the candy, or for the trick-or-treating, but simply because of the increased interest in the macabre, at least for a month. I have always been fascinated by the supernatural, macabre, and mysterious, and so October was always a fun month for me, whether it was due to readings that came up in school, or from television specials. So, on this Halloween, to share my love of the macabre, here are a few spooky facts and stories from throughout history:
- The Salem Witch Trials, which occurred between 1692 and 1693, were a series of trials for witchcraft in the religiously-devout Massachusetts colony. There are many theories which try to rationalize what is otherwise a rather eerie story, but some of the most prominent theories arise out of land disagreements, jealousy, and personal feuds within the town of Salem. All in all, the trials resulted in the execution of 20 people, 19 of whom were hung, and one which was crushed to death by laying stones atop him. It is easy and perhaps the most rational thing to put forth theories about the true cause of the trials, but one always must wonder, what if there was something more?
- Jack the Ripper was a serial killer who, between 1888 and 1891, in the impoverished area of Whitechapel, London, England, was thought to have been responsible for anywhere between 5 and 11 killings of a brutal nature. The Ripper typically targeted prostitutes in the area, and victims were found with cut throats and mutilations. Letters were written to the local authorities by people claiming to be the ripper, and even body parts from the victims were sent to the police. While it is not currently possible to link all 11 of the killings to one suspect, 5 of them very likely to have been linked. And the scariest part of all of this? The true suspect was never found, leading to theories that the Ripper died, relocated, or simply gave up his brutal ways. One always must wonder, who was Jack the Ripper, and what ever happened to him?
- Vlad III, also known as Vlad the Impaler, Vlad Tepes, or more commonly, Vlad Dracula, was an actual ruler of Wallachia, an area in modern Romania. Vlad led military campaigns against his enemies, and often punished those who opposed them by impalement. Some theories even state that Vlad dipped his bread in the blood of his enemies before he ate it. Known for his brutality, Vlad used his brutal methods to strengthen his power. Vlad was held captive by the King of Transylvania, but was released and led further military campaigns. He was eventually murdered on January 10th, 1477. The historical Vlad served as the inspiration for the famous Count Dracula, created by Bram Stoker in his book, Dracula. While rumors and legends surround Vlad, one can only wonder, what is real and what is myth?
