Vampire Legends?

Question

Which culture has the best vampire legend?

Answer 1

An interest in Vampire Legends, TL1?

The two definitive "nonfiction" books on Vampires were written by the same author, Dr. Montague Summers. Titles are "The Vampire, his Kith and Kin" and "The Vampire in Europe". While some historians dispute some of Summers' "facts", all other "nonfiction" books on the vampire mythos refer to and quote Summers' books.

Believe it or not, vampire legends vary widely across the world. Yet every culture has it's own version of a vampire.

I don't prefer one culture's mythos over another but I do have my favorite nuances.

1. In the majority of "Russian" cultures, vampires drink the blood of the people that they loved in life. This is also the mythos that most often find the legend that vampires can't come out when the sun is up.

2. The French believed that the best way to kill a vampire was to drive a stake through it's heart, then remove it's heart and burn it, then cut off it's head and smear both sides of the stump with garlic and bury them separately. Then if the vampire should return to life after all that, the garlic would give it indigestion.

3. My favorite nuance: In one of the Greek islands, the people would not (and maybe still won't) answer their door at night unless the person calls out their name 3 times. This culture believes that if a vampire knocks at your door and calls out your name and you answer it, the vampire can come for you whenever and where ever it wants. It could be high noon, at the Vatican and you could be surrounded by the Pope and all the cardinals, the vampire could still get you. This culture also figures that two vampires might band together so they could call your name out twice (the vampire seems to be restricted to being able to only call out your name once) and then "share" you. But these people figure that no human is enough of a "meal" to be shared by three vampires ergo they won't answer the door after dark unless their name is called out three times.

Another interesting aspect of the various cultures mythos is the difference in ways to kill a vampire. While all agree that a stake to the heart will kill a vampire, they disagree on what kind of wood should be used or how many times you are allowed to strike the stake. Some cultures believe that you can kill a vampire by burning the body however if anything escapes the fire the vampire lives on (these cultures believe that besides a bat or wolf or mist, a vampire can also change into an insect or mouse or other things).

There is also no "traditional" or most widely accepted set of vampire legends. At least before Bram Stoker wrote "Dracula" (which was initially also performed as a play). Hollywood adapted Stoker's book as it's "bible" on vampires. However outside of a few movies, most producers didn't read the book and realize that Stoker's vampire could come out during the day - he just has reduced powers.

I could go on "ad nausem" but I'll stop here. I check back on questions I answer so if any one wants further references or info, say so. Also refer to my answers. I think I have answered at least two other vampire questions. Much of the additional info I can give on vampire mythos is already in those answers. Also, in regards to Dungeons and Dragons style vampires, the D&D book editors picked and chose from various mythos in "styling" their version of vampire. It's not a completely correct version of any culture's vampire. I played D&D in it's various editions.

addition: Go Suzie. Thank God!! Someone else writes as long of answers as I do.

Answer 2

I don't know, I don't care, but chances are, I was the one who killed them. Vampires are possibly the weakest and most pathetic supernaturals out there. They don't even try to hide, they leave obvious trails, and usually leave the most bloodstains on my suits. Possibly the most ridiculous are the 'romantic' and the 'seductive' vampires, after all, making out with a blood-sucking corpse is possibly the most nauseating experience I can think of.
You have to hand it to werewolves though, anything that can pick up a Chevy truck and throw it at you is much more impressive than something that can't even step in the daylight.
Deus ex Noctum
>8)

Answer 3

Bulgaria. Vampire's Bride. Check http://www.ellefun.com/vbsedno

Answer 4

Vampires are legend in any culture.

Answer 5

Romania. You have Transylvania, Vlad the Impaler. I believe Elizabeth Bathory was from there also or surrounding areas. All of those were inspiration for Bram Stoker. You can even go there today and visit Dracula's Castle.

Answer 6

Romania is the origin of all Dracula legends.
Read "The Historian" by Elizabeth Kostova. It refers to true legends and origins of Dracula, and is very informative.

Answer 7

One of the main causes was lack of understanding about the decomposition process; when they dug up corpses sometimes, if it wasn't that long since the body was originally buried they'd see what they thought was new hair and nail growth, and bloated, reddened flesh, as if the corpse had gorged itself on blood. But all this is really just regular decomposition.

Answer 8

I read in an occult book years ago that the original vampire was none other than Lillith, Cain's wife (yes, the Biblical one). Whether it be fact or fiction it poses an interesting notion.

Answer 9

As I recall, the home of those blood sucking mothers
was in Austria and there were many that immigrated
to other countries over the years. A large majority of
the bloody devils went to western Europe and England, then on to various parts of North and South America.
Those evil night stalkers are all amongst us now. It has
been two generations since the great migration to the
Americas and they are everywhere, those evil blood sucking devils and scar faced mongrel dogs.

if you look closely at night, you can see them walking
down the sidewalks of our towns and cities. They never
look you in the eye. Never. They run from the sign of the cross, so I wear a big wooden one around my neck which is real easy to see from a long way off. I am ready for them. And, I know they are there just waiting for their chance to pounce on some innocent scatterbrained fool like that one over there, and those two next to them, and that little old lady. They are there alright. They are getting ready to come for us soon. Blood will flow in the streets everywhere. But, I am ready for them. I am going to take as many of them down with me as I can. You should get ready also. Be prepared. Never walk into the Fog.

Answer 10

Can't decide, but I do know the location of a vampire grave. I have seen it for myself.