Slavic Europe Vampire folklore by region

female upyr. dictionary of slavic mythology, 1996.

some of more common causes of vampirism in slavic folklore include being magician or immoral person; suffering unnatural or untimely death such suicide; excommunication; improper burial rituals; animal jumping or bird flying on corpse or empty grave (in serbian folk belief); , being born caul, teeth, or tail, or being conceived on days. in southern russia, people known talk believed @ risk of becoming vampires. slavic vampires able appear butterflies, echoing earlier belief of butterfly symbolizing departed soul. traditions spoke of living vampires or people 2 souls , kind of witch capable of leaving body , engaging in harmful , vampiric activity while sleeping.

among beliefs of east slavs, of northern regions (i.e. of russia) unique in undead, while having many of features of vampires of other slavic peoples, not drink blood , not bear name derived common slavic root vampire . ukrainian , belarusian legends more conventional , although in ukraine vampires may not described dead @ all, or may seen engaging in vampirism long before death. ukrainian folklore described vampires having red faces , tiny tails. during cholera epidemics in 19th century, there cases of people being burned alive neighbours on charges of being vampires.

in south slavic folklore, vampire believed pass through several distinct stages in development. first 40 days considered decisive making of vampire; started out invisible shadow , gradually gained strength lifeblood of living, forming (typically invisible) jelly-like, boneless mass, , building human-like body identical 1 person had had in life. development allowed creature leave grave , begin new life human. vampire, male, sexually active , have children, either widow or new wife. these become vampires themselves, have special ability see , kill vampires, allowing them become vampire hunters.the same talent believed found in persons born on saturday. in dalmatian region of croatia, there female vampire called mora or morana, drinks blood of men, , kuzlac/kozlak recent-dead have not lived piously. can men or women show @ crossroads, bridges, caves, , graveyards , frighten locals terrorizing homes , drinking blood. killed, wooden stake must thrust through them. in croatia, slovenia, czech republic, , slovakia, type of vampire called pijavica, literally translates leech , used describe vampire has led evil , sinful life human , in turn, becomes powerfully strong, cold-blooded killer. incest, between mother , son, 1 of ways in pijavica can created, , comes victimize former family, can protect homes placing mashed garlic , wine @ windows , thresholds keep entering. can killed fire while awake , using rite of exorcism if found in grave during day. in bulgaria middle ages through beginning of 20th century, common practice pin corpses through heart iron stake prevent return vampire.

to ward off threat of vampires , disease, twin brothers yoke twin oxen plow , make furrow around village. egg broken , nail driven floor beneath bier of house of deceased person. 2 or 3 elderly women attend cemetery evening after funeral , stick 5 hawthorn pegs or old knives grave: 1 @ position of deceased s chest, , other 4 @ positions of arms , legs. other texts maintain running backwards uphill lit candle , turtle ward off stalking vampire. alternately, may surround grave red woolen thread, ignite thread, , wait until burnt up. if noise heard @ night , suspected made vampire sneaking around s house, 1 shout come tomorrow, , give salt, or go, pal, fish, , come back.

one of earliest recordings of vampire activity came region of istria in modern croatia, in 1672. local reports cited local vampire giure grando of village khring near tinjan cause of panic among villagers. former peasant, guire died in 1656; however, local villagers claimed returned dead , began drinking blood people , sexually harassing widow. village leader ordered stake driven through heart, when method failed kill him, subsequently beheaded better results.