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!
I am thinking I might try to go as Ozzy!
Whatever my wife tells me to wear. Once she decides, then I will know.
Family of minions
I’ll be Pinhead from the movie “Hellraiser”. Being bald makes it a little easier to pull this costume off.
I would cool to win these rounds! Happy Halloween everyone!
I will not be dressing up this year but if I was I would go as Superman. I always wanted to fly.
I would love to win a free silver and copper Black Horse of Famine, although I already have the silver issue. I look forward to complete the series with the purchase of the final Pale horse of Death.
A Zombie coin collector, I’ll walk around with my Zombucks complete collection while scaring the kids!
Stormtrooper this year. Really excited.
MY boy will be going as Captain Hook, I gave him the costume last week, it fits great. It fits so well he wants to wear it everywhere he goes, let alone sleep in it. Ha! Happy Halloween to all Provident Staff and Customers!
Thanks for the short retelling of a classic.
I’ll be going as an Ent
Giving out treats here in Afghanistan
Dressing up as “Alfalfa”. A costume my late wife made me up for me. Brings back soo many memories! Happy Halloween!!!!
Having a tooth pulled on Halloween, so I will be going nowhere toothless……….
Dressing as Thor the Thundar God
Going as Darth Vader
I will be hand making this years constume. My grandson will be the scarcrow from the wizard of oz. My granddaughter will be dorthy with red flats. Our chorkie will be toto. To round out ill be the tin man and my wife the cowardly lion and her daughter the wicked witch. Hand making everything involves all family members and is great bonding time. We will be watching the movie this friday learning all the moves and gestures of the characters. Were off to see the wizard!
Sorry i’m to old to play dress up, but i like free silver and the only copper i have is old pennies ~ good luck to all, AJ Johnson III
Were doing zombies this year.
My baby girls will be an elephant and a cowboy!
I plan on being a vampire with the girlfriend.
I will be dressed as a underpaid worker, same costume I’ve used for the last decade. : D
As I turned 70 last month, I will be scary me. Might get a movie deal if I win the Provident free silver promo!
My family plans to dress as serial killers, I’m Ghost Face, my wife the fisherman from I know what you did last summer, oldest daughter is jigsaw, youngest daughter is Freddy Kruger and my boy will be Jason.
I am thinking Addams family, Gomez and Morticia.
I’m going to a music festival with a group of ten people, and we are all going as umpa lumpas.
I’m going as either the Master or the War Doctor this year. Haven’t decided which one yet but it’s going to fun!
Going to dress as myself this Halloween. .. that will be scary enough ….
I would love to win those coins. Happy spooky day to all!