Around The World with Vampires

They are usually “undead” and feed on the blood or life essence of the living. Vampire myths, like most folklore, come from events that people in the past couldn’t explain, such as the transmission of malaria by mosquitoes or the ruddy,”well-fed” look of a disinterred corpse (caused by the natural build-up of gases after death).

The Mullo

According to the Romani people, the mullo (”dead”) can live like a normal person and even marry and have children. Female muli appear normal but can drain their husband’s energy with their sexual appetites. Male mulo can father children. Children with vampire fathers were called dhampirs.

The Jiang-shi

If you ever visit China, beware of the Jiang-shi, which has greenish skin and likes to suck out people’s chi.

The Asanbosam

The asanbosam is the bane of the Ashanti people. It has iron talons and sharp teeth. It spends its time waiting in tree branches for humans to pass underneath and then…

The Soucouyant

The Soucouyant is known in Trinidad as an old woman who lives at the edge of little villages. She pulls off her skin in the evenings and goes flying around in the form of a fireball. She sucks human blood and is a type of “jumbie” a black ghost popular in the folklore of Caribbean people.

The Peuchen

The Peuchen comes from southern Chile. We hear about it from the Mapuchen people. It is described as a snake that has been accused of sucking the blood of sheep.

The Patasola

In Colombia, if a man goes hunting in the wilderness and stops to think about women, a beautiful, seductive woman will appear to him out of the woods. Usually appears as a woman that he knows and loves. She lures him away and then reveals her true form as a hideous monster with one foot…and a taste for blood and flesh.

The Vrykolakas

In Greece, the Vrykolakas passes from door to door in villages. It will knock once then call the person’s name. If there is no answer, they will move on. Which is why you should only answer on the second knock. At one point in history, Serbian people would say that person with red hair and grey eyes was a vrykolakas.

The Mandurugo

In Tagalog, mandurugo means “blood sucker” and refers to a beautiful woman. At night, she turns into a hideous winged creature, with a long skinny tongue that she uses to lap the blood of her victims. She is a type of Aswang, a vampire in Filipino folklore.

The Vetala

The Indian vetala hangs from trees around burial ground and possesses corpses.They have deep knowledge about human nature and can be repelled by chanting mantras.

In India, there is also Kali, the four-armed Hindu goddess with fangs. She is linked with blood-drinking.

The Adze

The adze, according to the Ewe people of Ghana, comes in the form of a firefly. After it bites you, you fall ill and die.