The Legend of Sleepy Hollow that inspired Tim Burton’s movie

Hello Horror Freaks! Have you ever heard of a headless horseman who is looking for his head while having a Jack-o’-Lantern as a head replacement and weapon? If you haven’t the time has come. Sit back, get comfortable and enjoy this story.

American author Washington Irving wrote this gothic tale as part of a collection of 34 short stories and essays in his book The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow was published in 1820 and is one of the first examples of American fiction and gain popularity, especially during Halloween, because of the Headless Horseman.

From the listless repose of the place, and the peculiar character of its inhabitants, who are descendants from the original Dutch settlers, this sequestered glen has long been know by name of Sleepy Hollow…A drowsy, dreamy influence seems to hang over the land, and to pervade the very atmosphere.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Washington Irving

The Headless Horseman is being around since the Middle Ages in American, Irish, Scottish, and English folklore. He’s usually a decapitated man riding his horse. In some legends he carries his head or he’s looking for it. This mythical character has been adapted in literature, films like Sleepy Hollow (1999) by Tim Burton, and tv series.

The real Sleepy Hollow

Each adaptation has his variations in details but they all have the essence of the original tale that has been told for 200 years. Sleepy Hollow is a little village in the state of New York in the United States, Washington Irving rest in peace in the Sleepy Hollow Cementery. In 2019 I visited Salem and I hope to have the opportunity to visit Sleepy Hollow too and see that beautiful and spooky place.