PureVolume

10 things you probably didn't know about vampires

OK. Before you read this let me explain myself a little. I decided (before twilight came out) that I was going to try to write my own vampire novel. So I spent some time on the internet looking up the myths and legends of vampires and where they originated. During my search I found alot of interesting facts that I'm bored enough now to share with you... hope you enjoy but if you don't thats OK too.

10-the word "vampire" aperenty comes from the Hungarian word for "spirit who feasts on the living" :vampyr

9-Porphyria has been suggested as a source of the vampire legend. Porphyria is a disease that causes a number of interesting symptoms that include seizures and mental illnesses such as paranoia, hallucinations, and depression. It can also cause photosensitivity (which is where your skin will react to the sun), blisters, itching, and swelling. Even more interesting is the main problem with Porphyria which is the lacking production of heme, the principal ingrediant in blood.

8-The vampire's allergy to silver most likely stems from the idea that silver is a white precious metal, which means that is is pure and essentanly repulsive to evil (presumably, the same would be said of platinum). The idea that a vampire wont appear in a mirror may also be related, since mirrors are peices of glass backed by silver. In the same way, vampires wont show up on traditional film because the photoreactive element in film is (you guessed it) silver.

7-One original myth that has vanished from modern fiction and film is the belief in placing millet or poppy seeds at a vampires supposed burial sight. This is said to keep the vampire busy all night counting seeds instead of preying on other people.

6-Causes of vampirism included; being born with teeth or a tail, being born in a caul, being concieved on certain days, irregular death, excommunication,improper burials etc.

5-Vampires and witches are said to be most active on the eve of St. George's Day, the night when all evil is supposed to be abroad. St George's Day is still celebreated in Europe (Aprill 22 julian, May 4 gregorian)

4-Graves were often opened three years after the death of a child, five years after the death of a young person, or seven years after the death of an adult to check for vampirism.

3-A cure for vampirism was to dismember the said vampire, burn the parts, and mix the ashes with water and give it to the family of the vampire to drink.

2-To be rid of a vampire people would hire a dhampire (the son of a vampire and his widow) to detect the vampire

1- for my last little fact you have to read the list below of other names and discriptions of vampires in other countries.

ancient greece-Lamiae (upper body of a women with the lower body of a winged serpent)

china- Chiang-Shih (red eyes with pink or green hair)

japan- vampire fox (??)

Malaysia- Penanggalan (a head with entrials)

Romania- Strigoi

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