Happy Halloween! Instead of a trick or treat, we’d rather give you the double treat of a spooky story and a bullion giveaway. Following the launch of Provident’s exclusive Black Horse of Famine round, let’s stick with the equine theme and share a little bit about “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” a short fictional story by Washington Irving. With so many modern iterations of this old tale, we’re going to dig back into the roots of the original story that was first published in 1820.
The story is set in the fictional town of Sleepy Hollow, a quiet little town that was said to have been bewitched due to the mysterious sights and sounds that surrounded the area. Talk around town tells of a Headless Horsemen spectre, thought to be the ghost of a Hessian soldier who lost his head by a cannonball during the Revolutionary War. The story tells that he “rides forth to the scene of battle in nightly quest of his head.”
Within this eerie little town, we meet a meek, superstitious schoolteacher named Ichabod Crane. He courts young Katrina Van Tassel, the daughter of a wealthy farmer. But Abraham “Brom Bones” Van Brunt also competes for her hand, and he and Ichabod find themselves in competition.
One night, Ichabod attends a harvest festival at the Van Tassel’s home, where he plans to propose to Katrina. However, he fails to secure her hand and rides home with a heavy heart. Along the way, his mind plays through the ghost stories told at the party by Abraham. Just as his imagination begins to swell in the moonlit woods, a cloaked horsemen appears at an intersection in a swamp. His head is not atop his shoulders, but instead resting on his saddle. Ichabod races across a bridge to escape the ghostly figure, but the Headless Horsemen throws his severed head directly at the man.
The next morning, Ichabod seems to have mysteriously disappeared. His horse, his hat, and a smashed pumpkin are the only remnants left behind. Katrina is left to marry Abraham in Ichabod’s absence. Though the ending is left open to interpretation, the story’s narrator tells us that the old Dutch wives believe that Ichabod was “spirited away by supernatural means,” leading to yet another legend of a lost spirit—that, perhaps, of Ichabod—wandering the woods.
Spooky stories and fun costumes are a staple during October, for adults as well as children. What is your Halloween costume this year? Commenting below will serve as your entry for our October giveaway. But remember to keep it classy; inappropriate comments will be deleted and disqualified. Submit your comment (one comment only please) by October 23, 2017. One winner will be randomly selected on October 24, 2017 to receive a Black Horse of Famine 1 oz silver round AND 1 oz copper round from our Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse series.
Good luck and don’t lose your head!
Our family loves Halloween, my daughter (5) will be Repunzel, my son (3) will be Woody, my wife is going as Minnie Mouse, and I will be Charlie Brown. Trick or Treat.
I don’t dress up for the holiday but our daughters are going as scary clowns.
My costume this year is a “normal” human being! Is that possible?
Steampunker! Every year I add to my costume!
I will dress as a deflated dollar bill. My wife will be dressed in all silver as LIBERTY pulling me around on a wagon bearing “Supported by Stackable means”.
My son is going to be a ninja and I will be a zombie Deadhead
I have been driving a tiny car around town for the past few months. A friend came up to me the other day and told me as I was following her out of work, she had looked into her rear view mirror driving home and stated I looked like Mr. Incredible crammed into his tiny car from the movie The Incredibles. She had posted pictures of the cartoon scene all over the office. I enjoy making people laugh, so going as Mr. Indredible this year to the office get together.
Tiger
I’m going out as a Wild West sheriff this year
We’ve all been bats this year… so we are all going as bats :
I’m dressing up as a steel mill worker because I have to work to make America great again!
Scrooge us going to be my ” go to “” Halloween costume character this year!!
The Headless Horseman would be a fantastic coin to mint. Perhaps an idea you could do.
Wow … I always get goosebumps when I hear the old story about kids making out at “lover’s point”, hearing a noise, driving off and then finding the bloody hook on the rear door handle. Kills me every single time. No pun intended.
My wife inherited some wigs from her grandma so I’m going to be and old scary lady with an authentic wig for effect.
Going as Pickle Riiiiiick!
We will be trick or treating this year with a seven five and four year old. Kids havnt decided thier costumes yet.
My daughter is gonna be Belle, and I am gonna be the Beast. Should be good. On another note I just got my shipment of 10 silver and 10 copper Black Horse of Famine coins and they are BA. My favorite of the collection so far. A+
My family has a lot of children right now. The kids are dressing up at Trolls, adults as Bergens.
Whatever goes with whatever we choose for our 5-month-old baby girl. The 3 Bears?
My daughter his dressing up as a clown because she is crazy not sure what I will be maybe a zombie or a warlock.
My three year old son wants to go as a pirate, so I’ll probably be his side kick and be a pirate as well.
A headless Hessian horseman. Just like Christopher Walkins in the movie.
I’ll be a Dad for Halloween.
A hillbilly. Not much to disguise. 😉
That’s a cool coin
I will be going around town as the father of a couple of little PJ Masks.
Dressing up as myself… very scary… trust me!
Have not dressed up since college however, back then I went as a cowboy. Bonus: Sleepy Hollow The Fox Show was filmed around Charlotte and other NC Cities for at least part of its run.
Steam Punk, Air Captain