World Sword Swallower's Day - Atlantic City, NJ

History of sword swallowing

Sword swallowing has amazed and entertained crowds for hundreds of years.  Normally, one would be able to find a sword swallower at a carnival or a circus.  The performer would usually look straight up with the chin in the air to provide a clear plane for the throat and carefully slide the sharp blade into the mouth and esophagus.  If a performer has shaky hands or misses by the slightest centimeter, it could mean injury at best or death at worst.

Modern-day practice

"Some people think sword swallowing is an illusion.  I'm here to tell you that it's not," said David Peyre-Ferry as he addressed a crowd of about fifty people in front of Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum in Atlantic City, NJ.

David Peyre-Ferry demonstrating one of his blades.

Peyre-Ferry is a sword-swallower who has been honing his craft for years.  On February 22, 2014, the day that commemorates World Sword Swallower's Day, he displayed then ingested swords of varying shapes and lengths, none of which were shorter than 20-inches, to mark the occasion.

"Are you going to die?"

"You're crazy!"

"Why would you do that?"

These were some of the responses from children present in the performance, and Peyre-Ferry, a budding showman, played to the crowd well.

Peyre-Ferry performing one of his feats as his father looks on.

He asked the youngsters "Does anyone want to switch?" as he was about to enter yet another blade into his mouth.  Not likely Mr. Peyre-Ferry, and some of the children were plenty vocal about their opinions, which mostly resounded in an overwhelming, yet adorable "NOOOOOOO!!"  Nicely said kids, nicely said.

What most impressed me about this back-and-forth was the emergence of wonder in the children's eyes, which for so long have been deadened by illuminated screens.  These little people, at that beautiful moment in time, not only knew that sword swallowing was dangerous and best left to the professionals, but were also spectators and inductees to one of the world's oldest (and oddest) skills.  There's nothing better than leaving a lasting impression on a crowd, and what better way to do that than to astound the masses with a reminder of how flexibly freakish the human body could be.