Abductee and time traveller ..... Rip Van Winkle ?

Rip van Winkle is a short story by Washington Irving.
The story is set in the days before and after the American Revolutionary War.
Rip van Winkle is a Dutch villager living in America. Rip escapes his nagging
wife by wandering into the forest with his dog and rifle. After meeting elves
and drinking their brew, he falls asleep under a tree. When Rip awakes from
his nap it is twenty years later, although he believes he’s only been asleep one
night. Rip van Winkle has a long white beard, rotted gun, his clothes are tattered,
shoes have grown moss, and his dog is gone. Rip stands up and heads back to the
village, wondering why his bones ache and who’s played a trick on him by taking
his shiny gun. Once in the village, no one recognizes the old man. Upset and
confused, Rip hails the king of England, not knowing that while he was sleeping
the American Revolution has taken place.
www.wmuseumaa.org...

Folklore inevitably contains a kernel of truth upon which a particular story is based.
In the case of Rip Van Winkle, the tale contains many elements of the modern
abduction scenario. It is possible to view Washington Irving as a story teller who
stumbled upon an account of some "strange" event which took place in the Catskill
mountains of New York State. As with modern day alien abduction stories, the
people of Irving's day would have had difficulty understanding what actually took
place and putting the event into words.
Washington Irving's research into the story ...
"The story of Rip Van Winkle may seem incredible to many, but nevertheless I give
it my full belief, for I know the vicinity of our Dutch settlements to have been very
subject to marvellous events and appearances. Indeed, I have heard many stranger
stories than this, in the villages along the Hudson; all of which were too well authenticated
to admit of a doubt. I have even talked with Rip Van Winkle myself, who, when last I saw him,
was a very venerable old man, and so perfectly rational and consistent on every other point
that I think no conscientious person could refuse to take this into the bargain; nay, I have
seen a certificate on the subject taken before a country justice and signed with a cross in the
justice's own handwriting. The story, therefore, is beyond the possibility of doubt."
iraap.org... ... by Ray Cecot

Did Rip Van Winkle meet aliens and take a twenty year holiday ? ( albeit forgotten )
The original story certainly alludes to this possibility ,
..... what do you think ?


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I think its just a story.

20 years he would have flash backs of aliens.

Seems fake to me