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There were no actual spider bites involved. It was a socially accepted way to externalize one's pain through hysterics and be healed through a form of exorcism. People who saw benefits from the ritual tended to repeat it the next year.
I am actually quite impressed that this is on HN. I am from the place where this dance is practiced, and it is a cultural highlight there. Most lyrics describe a physical pain and the willingness to dance to get the pain off. And as someone who likes to dance to this kind of music, I can tell you: It works! The most popular songs are called "pizzica" and often talk about love.
Side topic: don't miss the Notte della Taranta music festival: https://youtu.be/PgFOf73Z088
This seems like bullshit, tbh.
You should read the article, it talks about the causes.