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What is it? -

Although there are vastly differing accounts of what a vampire is, one of the main characteristics of this famous creature is that it drinks human blood.

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Nocturnal -

Vampires typically hunt at night, since sunlight weakens them (and even kills them, in some literature). In more classic cases, they don’t cast a shadow and have no reflection in the mirror.

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Contemporary culture -

Over centuries, the myth of vampires has evolved into a staple of modern gothic culture and has become a symbol of the eerie fascination associated with Halloween and horror fiction. These undead creatures blend mystery and fear in iconic tales and visuals.

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Early folklore -

Although vampires may seem ancient, their origins are more recent than those of witches and werewolves. Their established traits largely predate the classic tale ‘Dracula,’ yet vampire myths hold deep roots across cultures.

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Slavic folklore -

Early mentions of vampires can be traced back to Slavic folklore, particularly in Bulgaria, where vampires were viewed as ghostly monsters bringing disease and terror to villages.

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Linguistic origins -

The term "vampire" is thought to derive from a Slavic term meaning "devil" or "ghost monster," which brought to light their malevolent nature as creatures capable of widespread harm and horror.

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Spread into Western Europe -

Vampire myths spread westward through German-speaking soldiers of the Holy Roman Empire, embedding the vampire lore into Western consciousness as they occupied Hungary and other Slavic regions.

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Transformation in Western lore -

As vampire myths reached Vienna, Berlin, Paris, and London, the image evolved from an intangible ghost to an undead, physical being characterized by fangs and a lust for human blood.

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Medicinal blood rituals -

Beliefs about the medicinal value of human blood may also have influenced the vampire myth. Bloodletting was once common in Europe and the Americas. It was thought to cure ailments, which added a dark twist to the vampire’s thirst.

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Polidori -

John Polidori’s 1819 work, ‘The Vampire,’ redefined the vampire archetype as a suave gentleman with an ominous charm rather than an animalistic monster. This marked the beginning of the vampire’s evolution into a darkly alluring figure.

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‘Carmilla’ -

Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu’s 1872 novella ‘Carmilla’ introduced the concept of a female vampire, creating an iconic character who preys on unsuspecting women in a blend of horror and gothic romanticism.

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‘Dracula’ -

Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel ‘Dracula’ gave the vampire its classic features: a deathly pale man with a regal demeanor, sharp fangs, and the power to pass on his affliction. Even Count Dracula’s long fingernails and pointed ears told the story of a sophisticated monster.

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Stoker’s inspirations -

Stoker’s novel set the standard for future vampire tales. The author (pictured) was partly inspired by Slavic folklore and possibly Vlad the Impaler.

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Vlad the Impaler -

Vlad the Impaler, or Vlad III, was a 15th-century ruler of Wallachia (modern-day Romania). Vlad was known for using brutal tactics to defend his realm, especially impalement, which earned him a fearsome reputation.

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Blood and bread -

Legend says that Vlad the Impaler enjoyed dining with his dying victims, oftentimes dipping bread in their blood. It is unknown whether these gory tales are true.

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Porphyria -

The 1980s saw various academics propose that the rare blood disorder porphyria (which causes pale skin and light sensitivity) may also have contributed to the vampire myth.

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Symptoms -

People with porphyria share symptoms similar to vampires, such as pale skin, aversion to sunlight, and fang-like teeth. In the medieval period, this may have fueled beliefs in real-life vampires.

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Garlic -

Porphyria sufferers are often sensitive to garlic due to its potent flavor. This detail aligns rather eerily with vampire lore, reinforcing the idea of vampires as creatures afraid of garlic.

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Crucifixes -

Paranoia during the medieval era caused many porphyria sufferers to be subjected to trials by the church and burned at the stake. The Spanish Inquisition may explain the fear that vampires have of religious symbols.

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Rabies -

Rabies, with symptoms like aggression and foaming at the mouth, likely contributed to vampire myths. The disease can be spread through bites, which also parallels the vampire’s contagious bite.

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Tuberculosis -

Tuberculosis, once called “consumption” due to its wasting effects, may have also inspired the vampire myth by giving the illusion of a victim wasting away, similar to being “drained” by a vampire.

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Mercy Brown -

The only person to rival Count Dracula as the most notorious vampire is Mercy Brown, a real-life person who lived in Rhode Island, United States. Mercy and her family perished from tuberculosis in the late 1800s, and her father used Mercy as a scapegoat to explain their deaths.

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Exhumation -

Mercy Brown’s body was exhumed, and her heart was cut out and burned. The ashes were fed to her sick brother, who unsurprisingly perished shortly thereafter.

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A symbol of fear -

Many diseases in history had no explanation at the time, and so vampires symbolized the terror of mysterious illnesses that swept through helpless communities.

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Immortality -

The ageless existence of vampires may also have been heavily influenced by the mortality rate of the time, when illnesses would run rife and people found the concept of a disease-free eternal life to be endearing.

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From fear to fascination -

As science dispelled fears of vampires and technology became abundant, these undead creatures transitioned into fictional characters and shifted from sources of terror to fascinating, oftentimes romanticized figures in literature and film.

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‘Nosferatu’ -

One of the earliest films ever made with the inclusion of a vampire, the 1922 German film ‘Nosferatu’ solidified the creature’s horror-like qualities in contemporary culture.

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‘Twilight’ -

The romanticizing of vampires can be seen in Stephenie Meyer’s hit ‘Twilight’ series, published between 2005 and 2008, and subsequently adapted into a popular movie franchise.

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'What We Do in the Shadows' -

Other media have also taken the vampire myth away from horror mythology and into the realm of comedy. The New Zealand film ‘What We Do in the Shadows’ (2014) and its six-season American television series are renowned examples.

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Perpetual fascination -

Vampires remain embedded in the cultural psyche of our society, embodying a blend of horror and attraction that allows us to confront mortality, desire, and the eerie beauty of the supernatural. 

Sources: (The Collector) (History.com) (Encyclopedia Britannica)

See also: The most popular Halloween costumes from each decade

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