This week, we’re diving into the world of Sleepy Hollow, the legend of the Headless Horseman, and its Celtic origins. From the imaginative prose of Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow", this tale survived for over 200 years and has been adapted throughout popular culture.
Tune in as we embark on a journey through the misty, moonlit lanes of Sleepy Hollow, where the echoes of galloping hooves and haunting whispers still linger, leaving an unforgettable imprint on the tapestry of American storytelling. And what's better than that? Meet the Headless Hessian's much more metal Celtic cousin, the roaming Dullahan. Wanna guess what body part they use for their whip...?
For pictures and more information, please follow us on Instagram & Threads @thespectralpod and check out our resources below. If you want to send us a story or recommendation, email us: spectralpod@gmail.com. Please rate and review on your favorite listening platform. The ghosts and I will be eternally grateful. We hope you keep listening!
P.S. Did you know we always have bloopers after the outro music? Look at that, we provided an answer to a question you didn't even know you had. Alexis says, "You're welcome."
Resources
“10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Washington Irving.” Historic Hudson Valley, Accessed 19 Oct. 2023, https://hudsonvalley.org/article/10-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-washington-irving/.
“Discover Sleepy Hollow, NY.” Village of Sleepy Hollow, New York, Accessed 19 Oct. 2023, https://www.sleepyhollowny.gov/discover-sleepy-hollow-ny.
Irving, Washington. “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent, Bernhard Tauchnitz, Leipzig, 1843
Kast, Terry. “The Headless Horseman of Ireland - Dullahan.” Celtic Ranch, 29 Oct. 2020, https://celticranch.com/blogs/celtic-culture/the-headless-horseman-of-ireland-dullahan.
Kennedy, Lesley. “What Inspired ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’?” The History Channel, 22 Aug. 2023, https://www.history.com/news/legend-sleepy-hollow-headless-horseman.
“Monstrum.” The Original Headless Horseman, season 1, episode 4, PBS, 19 Nov. 2018.
“Tarrytown, NY.” Historic Hudson River Towns, Accessed 19 Oct. 2023, https://www.hudsonriver.com/hhrt/river-towns/westchester-county/tarrytown-ny.
Traynor, Jessica. “How tales of the headless horseman came from Celtic mythology.” The Irish Times, 23 Oct. 2019, https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/abroad/how-tales-of-the-headless-horseman-came-from-celtic-mythology-1.4060086.
