In 1518, Strasbourg witnessed a bizarre "dancing plague," where up to 400 people compulsively danced for days, unable to stop until they collapsed or died. The mysterious phenomenon, thought to be caused by ergotism (a fungal poisoning), psychological stress, or divine punishment, disrupted society and left lasting fear in neighboring regions. Despite attempts to quarantine and treat those afflicted, all eventually succumbed. This unexplained mass hysteria inspired H.C. Andersen's tale The Red Shoes and remains one of history's most perplexing and chilling unsolved mysteries.
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