The Headless Horseman.
Before exploring this character, we must clarify his characteristics. The Headless Horseman is a fictional character, meaning his stories are not real, despite what many believe, which is that he was created around the Middle Ages. His use is most reflected in Celtic and Germanic mythologies; however, the Headless Horseman we all know comes from the short story by Washington Irving, an American writer, with his story of Sleepy Hollow.
The story of the Headless Horseman has changed quite a bit over the years. The original tale is no longer widely used; its essence has been adapted to fit customs and cultural changes around the world.
He is considered a horror character, because his most particular trait is that, a headless man riding a horse, apparently seeking revenge, whatever tone is applied to the story, he is capable of terrifying anyone.
Next, we'll show you our own twist on the story of the Headless Horseman. If you'd like to read more content like this, we recommend exploring this article on short Argentine legends . You can also read other interesting categories on our blog. You can also discover the history of Salvadoran legends , which can complement your knowledge of horror stories.
The history.
In a sad and nameless town, far from all other civilizations, the villagers had a secret. Among them was the story of the horseman, a man who rode the streets at midnight on his beautiful black horse.
The younger members of the town thought the story was silly. After all, who would think of walking the streets at night? What could such a strange man possibly have done? The adults didn't say a word. They knew the horseman's story was filled with pain and that those who questioned it would end up hurt. They themselves had seen how that spectral figure took revenge on those who crossed his path. It was only a matter of time before they saw him again.
During the longest day of the year, the oldest man in town gathered all the little ones in his home, explained that he would tell them a story and that he hoped they would listen very carefully.
Come all, gathered around my bed, you are already adults, so I will tell you the truth that curses this town” – he said sounding quite serious.
Some of the children began to laugh, the man, very upset, told them that the consequences of their actions could harm their future. Once all the children were calm, he took a deep breath and began to tell the story of the town.
Years ago, long before I was born, a young couple lived here in the village. The woman was the most beautiful maiden of all, kind, charismatic, and well-spoken. Her suitor was a young soldier who had risked his life to win the war and return to his beloved. They were both very happy.
- The man began to tell with a look of love - Unfortunately, what that woman had not told the young soldier, is that his father wanted him to marry another man, the mayor of the town, a greedy man full of power.
Did they kill the lord? asked one of the children.
Yes, but not to whom you think - answered the old man - the young couple killed the mayor, this one in his last breath, told them that he would take revenge until the last of his descendants died.
And that's it? – Replies the oldest of the children, quite indifferently.
And now, the soldier, who was not an innocent person, contrary to what the others thought, removed his head and hung it in the center of the square.
What they would never expect, is that years later, that mayor would go out through the dark and stormy streets to steal one of his children, when the child disappeared, the only thing the neighbors had heard was how a horse ran, galloping incessantly, It went on like this for years.
But... that's today, right? – Asked the smallest of all.
That's right, tonight at midnight you will see the Headless Horseman in the square.
After that grim story, the children ran home. The older ones thought everything the man had told them was a lie, so they decided to go to the square at midnight to see if they would see such a man. When night fell, the weather became extremely intense, lightning struck incessantly, and the rain pounded the roofs mercilessly. Frightened, they decided to take cover, as several of them reported hearing a horse's hooves crashing against the ground.
The children hid in a barn and when they were counted, they realized that they were missing one person. Looking out the window, they saw how he disappeared into nothingness, when lightning illuminated the hill and they could see how the man they were looking for so much was there, upright on a horse and without his head.
When morning came, the children heard about the death of the man who had told them the story and about the disappearance of that child. The only thing the villagers said about him was that the Headless Horseman had already taken his revenge for that year.
The children promised to continue telling the story and never doubt the Headless Horseman. Today, in that already forgotten town, you can still hear the screams of terror and the hooves of the horse, riding along the roads.
You can read other articles like this one on our blog; in fact, we recommend reading Chilean legends for children . It's also interesting to learn about the myths told in Bolivia.
What the mythologies say.
Irish mythology tells of a headless creature, who is pictured riding a horse, who on holidays watches from deep in the dark fields, which is described as hideous, with eyes as black as night and with a smile that paralyzes your soul.
He is also known in mythology as a symbol of death, although his original story is somewhat confusing, the Irish believed that he preached death. If this creature spoke your name, the most certain thing was that you would die within days.
On the other hand, Germanic mythology is developed through the tales of the Brothers Grimm, who adapted the original tales of this creature. Within this writing, we can find two tales where the horseman warns the villagers not to go out or hunt the following day, using a horn.
Sleepy Hollow.
This story, which brought the Headless Horseman his greatest popularity, was created by American writer Washington Irving in 1820. The short story tells of a town terrorized by the Headless Horseman, a mercenary killed during the Battle of White Plains. Due to his struggles in battle, the loss of his head, and his death, the Headless Horseman dedicates himself to rising as a ghost, searching for his lost limb.
If you enjoyed this article, we invite you to continue exploring the different categories on our blog. In fact, we recommend reading our latest article on myths and legends of the world.
