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10 Cool Facts About Vampires

by PaulBirkin in Folklore, October 12, 2007

Where did vampires first appear in legend? When was the first vampire movie? Do people believe they really exist? Ten facts about the legendary vampire.

  1. Vampire legends date as far back as ancient Egypt and Sumeria
  2. Folkloric vampires of Eastern Europe especially the Balkans did not have fangs and were described as having ruddy and bloated appearances. They were afforded the gaunt, pale look by novelists such as Bram Stoker.
  3. Vlad the Impaler is credited as the inspiration for Dracula. Vlad was guilty of sadistic torture of his enemies, including impaling but as far as is known he never drank his victims’ blood.
  4. In the 16th century, Countess Bathory of Romania slit her maidservants’ throats and drank their blood with the mistaken notion that it would give her longevity and it is alleged that this gave rise to the blood drinking activities of vampires in fiction
  5. In Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire in 1973 a Polish expatriate, Demetrius Myiciura died from choking on a clove of garlic. He was found in his home surrounded by salt, garlic and crucifixes all reputed to stave off vampires.
  6. There is also a report that another Polish man, Jan Dbworski, died in similar circumstances in Stoke on Trent but in 1966
  7. Nicolae Ceausescu, communist dictator of Romania from 1965 to 1989 was portrayed by protesters against his regime as a vampire
  8. There are people who genuinely believe themselves to be vampires. In 2002 in Edinburgh, a Scot tried to convince a jury, unsuccessfully, that he believed himself to be a vampire and that it was the reason for his murder of a friend.
  9. In Cuba in 1977 there were reports of goats being attacked and drained of their blood. The creature attacking them was called a “Chupacabra”. It is still not known what the creature was.
  10. ‘Nosferatu’ was the first ever vampire movie that followed the “Dracula” storyline. It was released in 1922, silent and black and white. The first ever vampire movie is believed to be the German silent “Nachte des Grauens” aka “Night of Terror” released in 1916 and featured vampire-like beings.
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User Comments

  1. Anon Neemus (ha ha ha)

    On December 16, 2007 at 10:04 pm


    cool! liked the list… knew most of it already, but good on u, anyways! yay vampires! u know, until they kill u…

  2. Jessica land

    On March 11, 2008 at 5:38 am


    I thouhgt it is the besy infor in the world

  3. Lauren Dunne- Camel Tooth

    On April 22, 2008 at 5:52 am


    Good Evening Friends And Family,
    I Is lauren dunne the great.. known AS Camel Tooth For My Great Nerdy Ness.

  4. Sophie Kellet - Fishy Face

    On April 22, 2008 at 6:04 am


    Greetings Fish Friends, here is i princess kellet..
    princess of the sea.. hobbies: eating raw fish, swimming nakedly in puddles and my favourite hobbie of all is :… Picking me Nose And Eatin it ..
    I Rock The Homework I Am Giiven
    Goodbye For NoW MY fishy Friends..
    I WILL BE BACK

    Yours Sinserly– THE FISH!

  5. Francesca- Beaver

    On April 22, 2008 at 6:08 am


    greetings my fellow aliens..

  6. GARDO

    On September 30, 2008 at 11:00 am


    STUPID IDIOTS GET A JOB

  7. Paul

    On October 1, 2008 at 6:53 am


    Thanks Gardo for that incisive and intelligent contribution to the comments. Incidentally, I have a job, starts at 7.30am full time etc. and I’m sure a lot of others have employment as well. It may have escaped your attention but there’s a bit of a crisis going down vis a vis the economy and we’re a bit of a distance from 100% employment just yet.

  8. Paige

    On December 11, 2008 at 3:07 pm


    Nice one, Paul!

  9. sahar

    On January 2, 2009 at 3:06 pm


    i belive in vampires cause i saw 1 but i now all about it and that is not right

  10. sahar

    On January 2, 2009 at 3:07 pm


    joke

  11. bezus

    On February 26, 2009 at 10:39 am


    i agree with paige ans sahar i have seen a vampire and i do think paul told gardo!

  12. chené

    On March 13, 2009 at 1:40 pm


    the fish chick was deffinatly high when she added her comment

  13. amanda

    On March 17, 2009 at 9:05 am


    what ever u jokers u actually think vampires are real think about it then get your head straight!!!

  14. halima

    On March 28, 2009 at 9:11 am


    oh my god u really think vanpires exist
    well they dont!!!!

  15. maariyya

    On March 28, 2009 at 9:16 am


    b.o.g.o.f
    vampires dont really exist
    ur just thinking madness

  16. Paul Birkin

    On March 31, 2009 at 10:39 am


    Yikes – I realise vampires don’t exist but should I title this ‘Ten cool facts about vampires that don’t really exist even though there’s lots of legends about them’? Btw what about Inland Revenue, oops slap wrist Paul that’s naughty! Seriously thanks for commenting guys, Halima – are you the one I shared jokes with at Uni? What’re you doing here?

  17. Sarah R.

    On April 8, 2009 at 11:52 am


    i’m really into vampiers! i want to know did vampiers ever live in earth though because i’ve done alot of reasearch and it didnt tell me about it. you might thik i’m crazy but i truly belive in vampies good or bad! i dont care if they hurt me i really think there real. i knw ypu prolbly did more reaserch then me but i know somewere theres a vampier that would come to earth really soon.

    Sinccerrly,
    Sarah R.

  18. Alyson DUH!

    On April 13, 2009 at 4:42 pm


    btw i need more info about vamps.. thnak uy bts

  19. PaulBirkin

    On April 14, 2009 at 9:06 am


    Don’t think I can help you with your love life other than to say, you don’t have to wait for him to make the first move. Maybe invite him for a coffee or something, just casual not a date as such, then see what happens. As to vampire info, well I post a couple of links here for you but my best advice is to either use one of the search engines on the internet or your local library, you’d be surprised what can be found in good ole fashioned reference books. Links follow; http://www.vampirestruthlegend.blogspot.com,
    http://www.skepdic.com
    http://www.urbanlegends.biz
    take care
    Paul

  20. vampire bat

    On April 30, 2009 at 9:11 am


    i am real and if i catch you all my dinner

  21. Paul

    On May 3, 2009 at 1:18 pm


    Eeek, my belly’s wobbling with fright!

  22. Threequidd

    On May 7, 2009 at 10:18 am


    Of course vampyres are real! witches and wizards are real too. why would you even look here,if you did not believe in the vampyre?
    We exist in daylight too, suckers. And we can be with you and you will never ever know , unless we want you to. So do be careful in exacting our ire.

  23. Maryalice

    On May 12, 2009 at 2:46 am


    I too believe Vampires are very real. But they are not theevil beings as in the movies unless they so choose. Holy water, garlic, crosses, sunlight do not harm them. I belive Vampirism is a virus that affects people much like STDs and can be genetic as well. I believe vampires can have children. and can pass the trait on through them. I know 2 people that claim to be vampires and have went out with them and have drank calves blood with them. But I do not claim to be a Vampire. I eat raw hamburger and beef steaks warmed not cooked 1 & 1/2 minute on each side. I love garlic and I like the sweet coppery taste of blood. Vampires do not kill to feed unless they want to. They eat the same food as everyone but do not have to have blood to exist. They can be killed just like anyone else. They are living breathing beings. Some people are allergic to garlic, silver, and the sun can be deadly to some people but that does not make them vampires. The Vampire can have allergies as well, but they are not the Undead.

  24. PaulBirkin

    On May 19, 2009 at 2:24 pm


    Dan
    Thanks for your intelligent and coherent comment. I’m sure we have all learned a great deal from you today. Everybody say salaam to Dan and we hope to hear from you again soon.

    Okay, okay, I was just being polite then, Dan – you have serious mental health issues and I suggest you seek therapy – urgently.

  25. Vamps.

    On July 5, 2009 at 3:27 am


    I have done a lot of reserch on vampires. They don’t eat human food just blood. Garlic dosn’t harm them, silver and all that crap is a myth. They can go out into the sunlight. When they bite you, their venom spreds through our body and within 3 days your heart will stop and you will then be a vampire. Mabey all of this is crap or a myth. Mabey vampires don’t exist. One day we will find out. Thanks for listing to my comment. It was nice to here some of your comments. Also some of you, why did you come on this site, just to write rude or mean things? At the moment I do belive in vampires. But for you who don’t I advise you keep your big fat mouths shut!!!!!! You know who you are. All of you who do belive in vampires you should the Twilight Saga Series, they were amazing. Thanks again for listing!
    -Vamps.

  26. Viktoria

    On July 29, 2009 at 12:55 am


    I think that vampires r real but for people that don’t belev in them then the only thing I can say is. WTF y dont u beleav in vampires?????

    I Belev in vampires and thous that don’t I think that u should belew in vampires
    And wen u do u can write
    More about vampires

  27. PaulBirkin

    On August 6, 2009 at 10:03 am


    Viktoria, you have no right to demand that only those who believe in vampires should write about them.
    ‘And when you do, you can write more about vampires’???
    You make yourself look ridiculous by saying that kind of thing. A bit of advice as well, I don’t mind txt speak but please try and run your comment through a spellcheck first. Nobody will take seriously what they can hardly read.

  28. Wambui

    On August 31, 2009 at 3:26 am


    I like to think that if there were vampires in our time then they have been mislabeled. I come from Africa where our ancestors performed rites to keep them away from their children and families, and these was done centuries ago. I like to think if there are any now that they have changed with the times that maybe they are now vegetarian, i guess i liked the Twilight series. One can always hope that if there was an evil out there that it had embraced the good qualities of humankind, considering man can be both good and also the most evil species on the planet.

  29. some1

    On September 6, 2009 at 9:26 pm


    are u retarded

  30. PaulBirkin

    On October 4, 2009 at 3:58 pm


    Thank you Some1 for that intelligent comment. I’m sure we’re all a lot wiser for your contribution. You haven’t strayed over here from one of the nastier Facebook groups have you? It’s just that your style reminds me of somebody.

  31. jo shmo

    On February 22, 2010 at 4:14 pm


    yes im retarted. you got a problem with it? i dont beleave in vampires but i saw edward the other day in my room when i woke up, he was sitting in my chair across form my bed staring at me, he told me my hair looked like a haystack but he liked it! thats my story and i thought i would share it with you all.

  32. .::.Chelsea.::.

    On April 9, 2010 at 3:38 am


    I think vampires are real. And I like the fact that people who don’t like vampires or don’t believe in them; look them up and find these websites and waste their time to click on them and comment. You guys think WE are wasting our time looking at something we’re into, but your NOT wasting time looking up stuff your not into……. m’kay, we don’t go to you’r starwars websites and waste our time throwing lame insalts at you guys, so maybe ya’ll should find a hobbie or something.. do something else with you’r time.

  33. Alysaa

    On April 11, 2010 at 6:45 pm


    Vampires are very real. They aren’t like anything from Twilight. The sun DOES burn, but like a candle near your skin. Uncomfortable, yes, but not deadly. Most of the other myths aren’t true. They sleep, they don’t live forever, they’re not fast, they can see their reflections, and, though it’s repulsive -both to eat and smell- , they can eat garlic if they liked. Vampires are normal people, not very harmful -or not as bad as an obsessed murdurer on the loose- to people. Like people drink coffee or sodas or energy drinks, vampires drink blood. There are no -or very few- “vegetarian” vampires. They have lives almost exactly as ours, just no cafine to keep them awake.

  34. ?????????????????????????????????

    On April 29, 2010 at 5:18 pm


    Vampires!!!!

  35. curious.

    On September 18, 2010 at 11:07 am


    And where is your evidence, may I ask?

  36. C H A N E L L E =)

    On November 15, 2010 at 3:20 pm


    THEREZZ NO BLOWDYY SUCH FINGG AS VAMPIRESS
    IT ONLY HAPPENS IN FILMS LIKE

    *TWILIGHT
    *NEW MOON
    *ECLIPSE
    *BREAKIN DAWN
    & ANY OTHER’S THAT PEOPLE CAN THINK OFF

    SO THEY DONT DONT DONT DONT DONT DONT DONT DONT DONT DONT DONT DONT DONT DONT DONT DONT DONT DONT DONT DONT DONT DONT DONT DONT DONT DONT DONT DONT DONT DONT DONT DONT DONT DONT DONT DONT DONT DONT DONT DONT DONT DONT DONT

    E X I S T

  37. Your mom

    On November 19, 2010 at 12:51 pm


    Do you j’aime le stickers?

  38. Your dad

    On November 19, 2010 at 12:56 pm


    I like applesauce!

  39. samantha belle cullen

    On February 6, 2011 at 11:58 pm


    great nice one specially 4 me coz ima really die hard fan of twillight

  40. Alucard Hellsing

    On February 11, 2011 at 7:57 am


    Haha! Number 5 is hilarious. Interesting list none the less

    Check this list out of the most rock and roll vampires!

    http://backdoormag.com/the-10-most-rock-n-roll-vampires.html

    Who says vampires aren’t baddass?

  41. zara

    On March 29, 2011 at 6:58 pm


    Im very interested into knowing more about vampires, are any still alive now? i would love to meet one. i want to be one myself. xxx

  42. zara

    On March 29, 2011 at 6:58 pm


    Im very interested into knowing more about vampires, are any still alive now? i would love to meet one. i want to be one myself. xxx

  43. I am awesome

    On March 31, 2011 at 11:36 am


    I WILL SUCK YER BLLOOOD

  44. Mr plop head

    On April 5, 2011 at 7:15 am


    hello.

  45. Mr mouse man

    On April 5, 2011 at 7:16 am


    HELLO MY FELLOW MOUSES

  46. MR RICH

    On April 5, 2011 at 7:18 am


    I live in a grid…

  47. clarkeyboy2471

    On April 5, 2011 at 7:20 am


    My name is Liam Clarke and im a downey :)

  48. Chinease food is nice...

    On April 5, 2011 at 7:22 am


    hello

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