Fun Facts 19

More somewhat random Fun facts that have pretty much nothing to do with real life. Vampires.

Bite me

 

The Muppet vampire, Count von Count from Sesame Street, is based on actual vampire myth. One way to supposedly deter a vampire is to throw seeds (usually mustard) outside a door or place fishing net outside a window. Vampires are compelled to count the seeds or the holes in the net, delaying them until the sun comes up

 

One of the most famous “true vampires” was Countess Elizabeth Bathory (1560-1614) who was accused of biting the flesh of girls while torturing them and bathing in their blood to retain her youthful beauty.

 

Vampire legends may have been based on Vlad of Walachia, also known as Vlad the Impaler (c. 1431-1476). He had a habit of nailing hats to people’s heads, skinning them alive, and impaling them on upright stakes. He also liked to dip bread into the blood of his enemies and eat it. His name, Vlad, means son of the dragon or Dracula, who has been identified as the historical Dracula. Though Vlad the Impaler was murdered in 1476, his tomb is reported empty.

 

A vampire supposedly has control over the animal world and can turn into a bat, rat, owl, moth, fox, or wolf

 

The Twilight book series (Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn) by Stephanie Meyers has also become popular with movie-goers. Meyers admits that she did not research vampire mythology. Indeed, her vampires break tradition in several ways. For example, garlic, holy items, and sunlight do not harm them. (i guess that explains why they sparkle. Frankly I would much rather watch them wither and burn like in Van Helsing)

 

Before Christianity, methods of repelling vampires included garlic, hawthorn branches, rowan trees (later used to make crosses), scattering of seeds, fire, decapitation with a gravedigger’s spade, salt (associated with preservation and purity), iron, bells, a rooster’s crow, peppermint, running water, and burying a suspected vampire at a crossroads. It was also not unusual for a corpse to be buried face down so it would dig down the wrong way and become lost in the earth

 

Folklore vampires can become vampires not only through a bite, but also if they were once a werewolf, practiced sorcery, were excommunicated, committed suicide, were an illegitimate child of parents who were illegitimate, or were still born or died before baptism. In addition, anyone who has eaten the flesh of a sheep killed by a wolf, was a seventh son, was the child of a pregnant woman who was looked upon by a vampire, was a nun who stepped over an unburied body, had teeth when they were born, or had a cat jump on their corpse before being buried could also turn into vampires

 

In vampire folklore, a vampire initially emerges as a soft blurry shape with no bones. He would be  a “bas of blood” with red, glowing eyes and, instead of a nose, a sharp snout that he sucked blood with. If he could survive for 40 days, he would then develop bones and a body and become much more dangerous and difficult to kill

 

In some vampire folktales, vampires can marry and move to another city where they take up jobs suitable for vampires, such as butchers, barbers, and tailors

 

Certain regions in the Balkans believed that fruit, such as pumpkins or watermelons, would become vampires if they were left out longer than 10 days or not consumed by Christmas. Vampire pumpkins or watermelons generally were not feared because they do not have teeth. A drop of blood on a fruit's skin is a sign that it is about to turn into a vampire

 

Mermaids can also be vampires—but instead of sucking blood, they suck out the breath of their victims. (think about it)

 

Some historians argue that Prince Charles is a direct descendant of the Vlad the Impaler, the son of Vlad Dracula. 0.O

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Replies

  • yeah i've read about vlad. he was suuper sick and disgusting, also, just cruel.
  • that is creepy that he want in his tomb and ya people who say they are vampires creep me out
  • vampires are not real.
  • wow....superspiscion is crazy.
    how is a tailor a suitable occupation for a vampire?
  • I loved Count Von Count!!! and drea by u saying she was a attractive woman that makes you sound gay...just sayin. i think Vald is a very creapy guy. Prince Charles hahaha. i would really laugh if he isnt in his tomb either
    • well i just copied and pasted it in. I don't have time to type them all myself. so there's no need to take it that way. but i guess i'll fix it

  • i killed a vampire once.  it was awesome.  i punched him in the throat.
  • FIRST!!! and twilight vampires are not even real vampires cuz they sparkle. VAMPIRES DONT SPARKLE
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