Vampires of Folklore: Separating Fact From Fiction
The Vampire of Folklore
Dating back to the 1700s, vampires have found their way into the hearts of millions of people. Before Bram Stoker popularized the vampire in literature, entire cultures had myths about creatures associated with vampires.
The vampire of folklore is quite different from the modern versions of vampires that we know and love today. In December 2019, National Geographic released an article that discussed “the origins of vampires” and how they have changed over time.
Separating Fact From Fiction
Many of the stories that we hear about vampires today don’t actually have much basis in fact. In reality, the vampire of folklore was seen much more as a “psychic reverse-predator” since they were thought to be capable of draining the life-force of their victims.
The vampire of folklore also tends to have certain “tells” that they are a vampire. This has been found that they unearthly eyes, pale skin, sharp fangs, no reflection in a mirror, and a craving for human blood.
Stories of the Vampire
There are many stories that involve vampires of folklore from many different cultures:
In Europe, vampires were known as striges, while in China they were known as jiāngshī.
In Romania, they were known as strigoi and believed to be created from the bodies of evil people.
In Japan, they were known as VKs and believed to be born into poor families.
Vampires in Modern Culture
Today, vampires have transcended their folklore origins and become part of popular culture. Vampires are seen in movies, books, and in television shows. Count Dracula is one of the most famous literary vampires, and there have been countless movies about him and other vampires since he first appeared in Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula.
Vampires have become a part of our everyday lives, but it is important to remember their roots in folklore and to separate fact from fiction. While the characters may have changed over time, the vampire of folklore still holds a special place in our collective consciousness.