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 the “Silver Surfer”. And the gray hair has nothing to do with it. Be well and do good, my friends.
The original movie Halloween is from 1978, that’s 39 years ago.
The black horse of famine is the only thing keeping me from buying 100 of these coins.
My children start telling me what they want to be for Halloween in June, and by the time it gets here they change their mind about 20 times each. I love hearing how they describe their costumes.
Camping in a trailer with my 13/11 daughters. Everybody decorates their trailers and the kids have fun. Nice fire, costumes and scary stories.
Happy Halloween to all and to all a “Hallow” night!!
I just don’t know yet. More than likely it’ll be something Patriotic just like every year.
Going on vacation.
I’ll be going to work as myself. At my advanced age, my face is enough to scare most everyone.
I’m going as Captain Silver, who else? My wife will be the Gold Queen, but she has a lot more money than I do!
i’ll be dressed as a PIZZA DELIVERY DRIVER!!!…that’s because i’ll be working that night!!!…HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!
Sleepy Hollow is not a fictional town. It is in Mount Pleasant, New York east of the Hudson River. The story is fictional but the town is in fact a real place.
Halloween is a fun night for kids but also for adults too. Because you get to act like a kid again for one night # party # be yourself
Let open the gates to the spirit realm and I will lead forth the Wild Hunt!
Halloween is on a Tuesday this year, so I’ll be staying over to work on our 2nd shift so my friend James, who has 3 girls, can take them trick or treating.
Robin hood
We answer the door as a Rastafari couple, with dreadlocks and holographic glasses.
I’m dressing up as some guy named Bob.
Happy Halloween Everyone!
Trump. I’ll be tweeting the whole night ( ;
I’m going to be Bond, James Bond.
Work in a hospital.
Will wear white gown with ketchup all over, butcher mask and fake knife 🙂
I love this four coin series!!!
Me and my girl are dressing up as the notorious Bonnie and Clyde. We are planning the heist of the Black Horse of Famine 1 oz silver round AND 1 oz copper round from our Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse series. To add to our stacks. It will be a ghoulish delight. I can hear the sound of silver not that.925 stuff the real stuff. The beautiful impeccable sound the shine the weight of the lovely .999.. Give ghost bumps just thinking bout it…Happy Haunting…
I am going as the guy that gets killed in Alien, I have an alien worm that will be coming out of my chest
Halloween? Sorry not interested, I’ll count my junk coins under the flashlight, so kids wouldn’t keeping knock my door. LOL.
I will be handing out treats and having some family over for a get-together.
Happy Halloween!!
I’m going to dress up as my sister -in-law, a witch. Happy Halloween
Everyone
I’ll be dressed up as me, that’s scary enough haha