The legend of the vampire is certainly not limited to one tiny part of the globe; it is a tale told in many parts of the world, with each culture putting their own unique 'spin' on the legend. That is what this lesson is all about, my fellow vampire enthusiasts! Grab your passports, pack those trunks and let's get a move on; time and Dracula wait for no one!!
Germany/Austria
Although one could argue that these were actually fairies with vampiric tendencies, I have decided to include the creatures known as the wood wives in this section, as the legends surrounding them were quite prevalent, especially during the 16th and 17th century. They were forest-dwelling creatures, usually female, tall, elegant, with deathly pale skin, and sharp claws, who chose to dress in pale green gowns, much like the surrounding woodlands. Though they could be benevolent, if they chose, they could also kill unsuspecting travelers for the sole purpose of drinking their blood. They were especially, however, drawn to small children or babies. Their attacks against their tiny prey drained off only small mounts of blood, never enough to kill, but enough to leave the victim tired and listless. Because they were bound to nature and the forest, the surest way to dispel them was to burn bits of wood in a fire; in Bavaria, it was believed that if this was done, a wood wife would die.
Another particularly vicious vampire-type creature was the alp. a creature believed to live in the remote mountains of Austria, though there are conflicting rumors as to its actual appearance. Some legends have it as a ghoulish dwarf, others the spirit of a dead person come to life, still others a little old man, and others a powerful, shapeshifting wizard who goes about the countryside in the shape of a cat or a bird. Whatever the particular form it took, the result was the same-deadly.
The habergeiss was believed to be a three-legged creature who had the ability to move very fast. Under the cover of darkness, it would attack and drink the blood of cattle grazing in the field. Luckily for us, it was not known to have a taste for human blood, and would only attack if its feast was disturbed.
The schrattl was a particularly nasty vampire, not caring if it was animal or human; they would feed from either indiscriminately. Possessing immense mental powers, they could render their victims insane. They were considered to be "shroudeaters"; corpses that had come into some sort of foul life while in the grave and eaten their way out of their winding sheets back into the world of the living. Pleasant, huh?!
Mexico
Germany/Austria
Although one could argue that these were actually fairies with vampiric tendencies, I have decided to include the creatures known as the wood wives in this section, as the legends surrounding them were quite prevalent, especially during the 16th and 17th century. They were forest-dwelling creatures, usually female, tall, elegant, with deathly pale skin, and sharp claws, who chose to dress in pale green gowns, much like the surrounding woodlands. Though they could be benevolent, if they chose, they could also kill unsuspecting travelers for the sole purpose of drinking their blood. They were especially, however, drawn to small children or babies. Their attacks against their tiny prey drained off only small mounts of blood, never enough to kill, but enough to leave the victim tired and listless. Because they were bound to nature and the forest, the surest way to dispel them was to burn bits of wood in a fire; in Bavaria, it was believed that if this was done, a wood wife would die.
Another particularly vicious vampire-type creature was the alp. a creature believed to live in the remote mountains of Austria, though there are conflicting rumors as to its actual appearance. Some legends have it as a ghoulish dwarf, others the spirit of a dead person come to life, still others a little old man, and others a powerful, shapeshifting wizard who goes about the countryside in the shape of a cat or a bird. Whatever the particular form it took, the result was the same-deadly.
The habergeiss was believed to be a three-legged creature who had the ability to move very fast. Under the cover of darkness, it would attack and drink the blood of cattle grazing in the field. Luckily for us, it was not known to have a taste for human blood, and would only attack if its feast was disturbed.
The schrattl was a particularly nasty vampire, not caring if it was animal or human; they would feed from either indiscriminately. Possessing immense mental powers, they could render their victims insane. They were considered to be "shroudeaters"; corpses that had come into some sort of foul life while in the grave and eaten their way out of their winding sheets back into the world of the living. Pleasant, huh?!
Mexico
El Chupacabra is something of an enigma; no one is quite sure exactly what it is, and there have been many varying accounts. Some say it is a dead soul that has taken physical form, others have it as an unidentified species of marsupial, and there have even been some stories that slate it as being an extraterrestrial being. By all accounts, however, the physical description of the creature (whatever it is), puts it at roughly 3-5 feet tall with dark gray facial skin, coarse hairy body and deep black eyes (that may sometimes appear yellow or red and glow in the dark). El chupacabra has the unique ability to change colors, like a chameleon, has a canine-like snout, flat ears like a wolf, and sharp fang-like teeth which are said to be hollow to allow the creature to store up the blood from its victims. Rest easy though, folks; though there have been numerous reports of this fearsome vampire-like 'baddie' attacking cattle and dogs, no humans have yet fallen victim to it. Let us not start a new trend, hmmm?
Ireland
It is sometimes all too easy to forget that the man who immortalized Dracula was himself, Irish, and may have drawn inspiration for the vampire legend from the folklore brought about by the country's tragic events. Given the Irish Potato Famine (1845-1852), there were many stories of people in County Clare and County Galway (two of the areas affected the worst), who drew blood from the necks of their cattle to make 'relish cakes' (blood mixed with oatmeal and greens) to help stave off starvation. Stories abounded about people getting desperate enough to drink blood directly from the veins of cattle and horses or bite heads directly off the heads of chickens in order to get whatever nourishment they could. Grisly tales for a horrific time in Irish history, and one could see how it could affect the vampire legend.
Ireland is a country steeped in tales of the supernatural, and vampire lore is no exception. One such legend is that of the creatures known as the marbh bheo. (the night-walking dead), among which are counted the blood-drinking fairies that haunt the road between Dun Chaoin and Baile Feirtearaigh on the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry. Also in County Kerry, one might hear tales of certain women, who late at night, would roam about the countryside to devour flesh and drink the blood of newly interred corpses. There are tales of whole troops of fairies (darn those fairies, again!) who lived deep in the hills, whose main job in life seemed to be the attacking of travelers to suck the blood from their arms and legs. These particular creatures were known as the neamh-marbh (the Undead). Sounds like a vampire to me!
From Ireland, we get the Tale of Abhartach, which may well be the oldest formally recorded vampire story in Western Europe. It comes from the town of Slaughtaverty in North Derry, and originates from the 5th-6th century. Abhartach was believed to be a warlord who ruled there, very small in stature and deformed, but a most powerful wizard and most definitely a tyrant. So much so, in fact, that the people under his harsh rulership wishing to rid themselves of him, hired another chieftan, Cathan (or Cathain) to kill him (they were afraid of attacking him themselves). Abhartach was slain and buried standing up, as befitting a chieftan; the next day, however, he was back and demanding a basin filled with blood from the wrists of his subjects in order to sustain his corpse. The deed was repeated, with the exact same result. This continued until a holy man was called in, who identified him as a neamh-marbh, and stated that he could not be killed. However, to prevent him from rising again, he cautioned the people to 'slay him with sword made of yew wood and bury him upside down, surround the gravesite with thorns and place a great stone directly above where the vampire lay. The grave, incidentally, is still reported to be there, in the middle of a barley field. Maybe we should just take their word for it!
France
Les Dames Blanche (White Ladies) were creatures that appeared to be half-ghost, half-fairy, but with very decided vampiric tendencies. Usually congregating near crossroads or cemeteries late at night in the full of the moon, they would wait for unsuspecting travelers in order to waylay them and drain them of their blood. These 'ladies' would often choose to take the form of beautiful women, with pale ivory skin, who would dance under the full moon, inviting their hapless prey to join them, using their hypnotic powers to make their request impossible to disobey. Talk about taking 'save the last dance for me' to extremes!
Ireland
It is sometimes all too easy to forget that the man who immortalized Dracula was himself, Irish, and may have drawn inspiration for the vampire legend from the folklore brought about by the country's tragic events. Given the Irish Potato Famine (1845-1852), there were many stories of people in County Clare and County Galway (two of the areas affected the worst), who drew blood from the necks of their cattle to make 'relish cakes' (blood mixed with oatmeal and greens) to help stave off starvation. Stories abounded about people getting desperate enough to drink blood directly from the veins of cattle and horses or bite heads directly off the heads of chickens in order to get whatever nourishment they could. Grisly tales for a horrific time in Irish history, and one could see how it could affect the vampire legend.
Ireland is a country steeped in tales of the supernatural, and vampire lore is no exception. One such legend is that of the creatures known as the marbh bheo. (the night-walking dead), among which are counted the blood-drinking fairies that haunt the road between Dun Chaoin and Baile Feirtearaigh on the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry. Also in County Kerry, one might hear tales of certain women, who late at night, would roam about the countryside to devour flesh and drink the blood of newly interred corpses. There are tales of whole troops of fairies (darn those fairies, again!) who lived deep in the hills, whose main job in life seemed to be the attacking of travelers to suck the blood from their arms and legs. These particular creatures were known as the neamh-marbh (the Undead). Sounds like a vampire to me!
From Ireland, we get the Tale of Abhartach, which may well be the oldest formally recorded vampire story in Western Europe. It comes from the town of Slaughtaverty in North Derry, and originates from the 5th-6th century. Abhartach was believed to be a warlord who ruled there, very small in stature and deformed, but a most powerful wizard and most definitely a tyrant. So much so, in fact, that the people under his harsh rulership wishing to rid themselves of him, hired another chieftan, Cathan (or Cathain) to kill him (they were afraid of attacking him themselves). Abhartach was slain and buried standing up, as befitting a chieftan; the next day, however, he was back and demanding a basin filled with blood from the wrists of his subjects in order to sustain his corpse. The deed was repeated, with the exact same result. This continued until a holy man was called in, who identified him as a neamh-marbh, and stated that he could not be killed. However, to prevent him from rising again, he cautioned the people to 'slay him with sword made of yew wood and bury him upside down, surround the gravesite with thorns and place a great stone directly above where the vampire lay. The grave, incidentally, is still reported to be there, in the middle of a barley field. Maybe we should just take their word for it!
France
Les Dames Blanche (White Ladies) were creatures that appeared to be half-ghost, half-fairy, but with very decided vampiric tendencies. Usually congregating near crossroads or cemeteries late at night in the full of the moon, they would wait for unsuspecting travelers in order to waylay them and drain them of their blood. These 'ladies' would often choose to take the form of beautiful women, with pale ivory skin, who would dance under the full moon, inviting their hapless prey to join them, using their hypnotic powers to make their request impossible to disobey. Talk about taking 'save the last dance for me' to extremes!
Please proceed to Assignment 3 for your homework.