Vampires
The vampire legend has been around since at least Roman times, with the specifics changing somewhat with each culture. Because of this, various vampire lore and legends can be contradictory. Ancient Roman "striges" could change into owls and drink the blood of babies. In medieval Eastern European countries, folklore of vampires as well as vampire slayers was common. The vampire legend was strengthened in 14th century Europe with the brutal deeds of Vlad Tepes Dracula. Bram Soker's 1897 novel Dracula reinforced some vampire lore by putting it into mass print. ParanormalAtoZ.com now has the complet text of Bram Stoker's Dracula on-line and absolutely free!
Vampire Lore & Legend: Becoming a vampire: Vampires are dead beings that come back to life. In some legends the vampire becomes a vampire only after death. In other legends the vampire is born a vampire. To be born a vampire the child may be the child or grandchild of a vampire. A child may be born a vampire if it has a caul or alternately a dark caul. People usually become vampires by being bitten, but not killed, by a vampire. Some legends have corpses becoming vampires when a cat or dog jumps over it. Other legends say that a Witch becomes a vampire when s/he dies.
blood: Vampires usually need or crave blood, frequently human. Vampires usually obtain blood by biting a victim's neck and drinking the blood. In some legends they suck the blood through long, hollow front incisors. In other legends the incisors are not hollow, but long and sharp to pierce the victim.
Fending off and destroying a vampire: Legend usually states that a wooden stake through a vampire's heart will kill it. In some versions the vampire needs to be dormant for this to work. The stake may need to be a certain type of wood, such as hawthorn. Vampires usually can not tolerate sunlight or fire. Some legends have vampires warded off by crucifixes, holy water, or garlic. Vampires may not be able to cross moving water. Some legends say that a vampire can not enter a building or a room without first being asked. Some legends say that vampires dislike the sound of bells ringing, especially church bells.
Vampire dormancy: Vampires usually sleep during the day and come out only at night. Vampires may also come out right at 12 noon for a brief period. Vampires usually spend the day in a coffin or buried in the ground.
Etceteras: Some legends state that vampires can turn themselves into bats or wolves. Some legends state that mirrors will not reflect vampires. Vampires are usually said to be very charming. Vampires may be compulsive liars. Some legends state that a vampire's fingernails have a glass-like appearance.
Three medical conditions may have led to people being inaccurately identified as vampires: (1). Anemia causes a pale skin complexion. This may have looked like vampirism. (2). Catalepsy can cause a death-like state for a short time to several days. A person coming out of this state will appear to be rising from the dead. (3). Porphyia is a rare genetic blood disease. It causes pale skin, sensitivity to light, and makes the incisors look bigger. Porphyia almost certainly influenced the vampire legend.
There is great interest by some people in living as a vampire. The role-playing game "Vampire: the Masquerade (TM)" by White Wolf (see links) has local chapters all over the world. The "game" is fairly complex, with many books available from White Wolf to guide play. Other people are very intent on a vampiric appearance. They may even get permanent extensions on their incisors or have their skin bleached.
Vampires are a big selling subject in books, movies, and television shows. Bram Stoker's 1897 novel "Dracula" increased the popularity of the vampire legend. The author Anne Rice has written extremely popular novels about vampires. Vampires are the subject of the T.V. series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer".
Comparing vampires in literature, film, and television shows the great diversity in vampire lore.
In Anne Rice's classic novel "Interview With the Vampire" the character Louis suffers because he is a vampire who retains his human soul. The vampire Angel on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" suffers similarly.
In Bram Stoker's Dracula, in Anne Rice's books and on Buffy, vampires are destroyed by sunlight and fire.
The older a vampire is the stronger they become in Dracula, Anne Rice's books, and on Buffy.
Dracula and Buffy vampires will turn to ash when decapitated or stabbed with a stake to the heart. Anne Rice's vampires are not destroyed, however, by a stake to the heart. Anne Rice vampires are only temporarily destroyed by decapitation or dismemberment. Rejoining of the pieces will result in the reanimation of an Anne Rice vampire.
Anne Rice vampires are not harmed by holy water or crucifixes. Buffy vampires can be killed with enough holy water, and touching a crucifix will burn a vampire. Dracula vampires do not like crucifixes. This may be because, in Dracula and on Buffy, vampires are "evil" and in Anne Rice's books they are not.
There are no natural born vampire slayers in Dracula or the Anne Rice books. Buffy is a natural born vampire slayer.
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