A few days ago, my boyfriend decided to download a modification for a game we both loved: Skyrim. It was supposed to introduce new monsters that we could fight against. However, as we were playing, I couldn’t help but notice that there was one monster that looked incredibly familiar. It had a pumpkin for a head, and a creepy smile I found myself adoring. And although, much to my dismay, he decided to remove the monster from the game, I still loved the little creature. It was the reason why I fell in love with The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, by Washington Irving, is a short story about a local legend that grew into the timeless myth we all enjoy. The story begins with the Dutch settlement, Tarry Town, that is supposedly haunted by a variety of different ghosts, with the most infamous one being the Headless Horseman. Legend has it that the horseman was formerly a Hessian soldier whose head was blown off during the American Revolution. Because of this, he rides at night, searching for his missing head. On the lighter side, a local school teacher named Ichabod Crane wants to marry a rich woman so he could secure her wealth. However, another man named Bones is vying for her attention. One night, Ichabod decides to go to a party at the woman’s house to try to woo her. When that fails, he leaves the party, only to stumble across what could very well be the Headless Horseman himself. He later disappears from the town, frightened by what he’d just seen. The story ends with Bones becoming engaged to the woman. While it’s inferred that Bones was the one who had scared off Ichabod, the Headless Horseman continues to be a tale passed down by the old women residing in the town.

The Headless Horseman was among the first to embrace what we know now as horror comedy. Although horror, in and of itself, is often seen as a rather serious genre, it can be lightened with humorous elements that relieve the tension of the story. Such was the case when Bones revealed himself to be the culprit, or when, despite knowing that the legend is probably false, people still believe it anyway. What’s more, it represents how powerful urban legends can be.
 
The Headless Horseman is a particularly famous legend that we still embrace today. Back then, it was believed that the legends served as ill omens for those who were seen as arrogant. Now, however, it’s seen as a fun pastime for people to indulge in. For instance, the Historic Hudson Valley organization has often hosted what’s known as “Legend Weekend” in the Philipsburg Manor since 1996. The small village of North Tarry Town had officially changed its name to Sleepy Hollow to celebrate the legend. The story itself has even garnered national attention as well, with it being remade into TV shows, musicals and even popular movies.

The short story was iconic. It seemingly incorporated haunting elements, only to later be revealed as simple mischievousness. And yet, it’s an enduring legend that has captured our attention, as well as our muses.