  Horror/Scary
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He was a Jack-in-the-box. Sunset up, sunrise down. And repeat, forever and forever. He was a thing in a box in a cold deep cellar. He was a container for red wines. There was no label on him, but there were little drops of red liquor upon his sleeping lips. He was the contents of a mahogany box, in a cellar of webs and upside-down things hooked to the ceilings. He lived in a land of dripping midnight waters and soft grey web. He was a white hand, a rouged mouth, a glass eye, a set of white teeth and a cold heart. He was a pedestrian who walked the nights. He was a sleeper with original ideas as to hours. He was a leaf, a pelt, a flame, a wing. He was Robert Warram, dead these hundred of years.
Excerpt from E Everett Evans’ "The Undead Die"
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In previous newsletters I have remarked upon the overuse of traditional creatures like the Vampire in Horror writing. This is my personal opinion, so when IanM.Raugh  suggested a newsletter on “Vampire Mythology” it was a challenge. Vampires are a popular part of the horror genre, and their place in writing is assured. I have discovered there’s a lot more to Vampires than I realised, and the mythology surrounding them from all over the world is fascinating. I believe any horror writer could take one or more elements from the various cultures and create an excellent twist on the Vampire character or your next story
Modern mythology surrounding the Vampire is usually attributed to the mythology of south eastern European countries like Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia and Romania. The general belief that Vampires are reborn from the corpse of a person bitten by a Vampire during life has contracted from the original myth, which claimed witches, evil people and suicide victims would rise from the grave in the guise of a Vampire.
It is thought vampire myths from this region developed in the ninth century, the result of conflicting beliefs between paganism and Christianity. A number of different reasons evolved as to the cause of Vampirism, including conceiving a child of specific days or being born with teeth, a tail or a caul (a membrane over a newborn’s head). Any child that died before it was baptised risked becoming a Vampire, and the seventh child of the same sex in a family would be a Vampire. The same fate awaited the child born of a mother who didn’t eat salt or a mother who was looked at by a Vampire or a witch. Excommunication, suspicious and unusual deaths and improper burial rites increased the chances of becoming a Vampire.
There were certain measures to prevent the change. Cauls were carefully removed from the newborn’s head and disposed of before the baby could eat any of the membrane. Care was also taken to prepare the dead for burial - a crucifix or the branch of a wild rose was sometimes placed inside the coffin. Millet or poppy seeds were often scattered in the grave because Vampires are apparently fascinated with counting. Inserting blocks under the deceased chin would prevent the corpse from eating its shroud, as would nailing the shroud to the side of the coffin. In extreme cases the corpse would be pierced with thorns or wooden stakes. Careful measures were taken to stop animals from passing over the corpse before interring.
If a family member began throwing objects around the house it became cause for suspicion. Evidence of a Vampire’s move into an area could be seen by multiple deaths – both of people and livestock. To check if the Vampire was masquerading among the living garlic would be distributed at church. Anyone who wouldn’t eat the garlic was considered a Vampire. Sometimes a corpse would be exhumed and checked for Vampire qualities. Children’s graves were opened three years after death to check for signs of Vampirism. A young person’s grave was opened after five years and an adult’s was checked seven years after death. If the exhumed body appearing in a lifelike state with new growth of hair and fingernails or had moved a foot into a corner of the coffin then it was obvious it had morphed into a Vampire. If the corpse had blood in its mouth, a ruddy complexion to the face or a swollen body then action had to be taken.
Methods for destroying Vampires included a wooden stake through the heart, decapitation and insertion of garlic into the severed head’s mouth, burning the corpse, throwing holy water in the grave, repeating the funeral service or performing an exorcism. By the 19th century bullets were fired into suspicious coffins, while the more resistant occupants would be exhumed, dismembered and burned. The residue was mixed with water and given to the deceased family for a beneficial cure. Preventative long-term measures to keep vampires at bay include placing garlic on windowsills and rubbing it on cattle.
Here is some information about Vampire beliefs from different cultures:
India.
The Bhuta is the soul of a person who has had an untimely death. At night it attacks the living as it wanders around as an animated corpse. The Brahmaparusha has a head encircled with intestines and a skull it uses to drink blood. Kali is the most famous Indian Vampire. Depicted with fangs and wearing a garland of corpses or skulls she has four arms, and her temples were placed close to cremation sites. Legend claims she fought the demon Raktabija, who had the unique ability of being able to reproduce from a single drop of blood. Kali drank all his blood, spilling not one drop which meant Raktabija was killed.
Gypsy.
In the Gypsy culture Vampires are not restricted to human beings. A plant, a dog or cat or even a farm animal could become a Vampire. Even melons and pumpkins kept too long in the house would begin to make noises, move or leak blood. Anyone unfortunate enough to be considered ugly or suffering an abnormality like a missing finger was considered a vampire. The Vampire Mullo returns from the dead to punish a variety of people. Anyone it believed had caused its death, someone who’d kept the deceased possessions instead of destroying them according to Gypsy law or anyone who had not observed the correct burial rites for the deceased was targeted. Punishment included sucking the guilty party’s blood or inflicting malicious personal injury. A female Vampire could marry and lead a normal life, but would ultimately exhaust her husband. To keep Vampires at bay steel or iron needles were driven into a corpse’s heart and steel pieces placed in the ears and mouth, over the eyes and between the fingers at burial. Hawthorn might be placed in the corpse’s sock or a stake of hawthorn pushed through the legs. In extreme cases stakes would be driven into the grave… or the corpse would be covered in boiling water… or decapitated… or burned.
Japan.
There are very few traditional Japanese Vampire stories; they appear to have become popular during the last 15 years. Japanese blood-sucking demons are called kyūketsuki, and are a common feature of manga, a type of Japanese fiction. Described as a unique and sometimes superior race, the original Vampires – the Shinso - are the most powerful.
Greece.
In addition to excommunication Greeks believed anyone failing to observe a holy day could become a Vampire. The same belief applied to people committing serious crimes, those who died alone or a person who ate the meat of a sheep killed by a wolf. If a cat leapt over the grave before interment the corpse would rise as a Vampire. A corpse would be exhumed three years after burial, and the family would place the bones in a box. Wine would be poured over them, and a priest would bless the deceased. If the corpse was not decomposed it would be treated as a Vampire.
The Carribean.
The Loogaroo is a female creature whose magical powers are attributed to the nightly donation of blood to the Devil. To source the blood she visits the Devil Tree, sheds her skin and transforms into a flame or a ball of bright light, haunting the night in search of blood for her master. When she has sufficient blood she returns to the tree and dons her skin and returns to her familiar humanoid shape. The Loogaroo is afflicted with the familiar Vampire obsession of counting, so a pile of sand or rice left outside the door will force her to stop her bloody search and count the grains. Hopefully she will still be counting at dawn, and will be forced to return to her skin without collecting blood.
Africa.
The Adze usually appears as a firefly, but it will assume a human shape if captured. Its diet consists of coconut milk, palm oil and blood, and it hunts children. Another being with vampire tendencies is the Lightning Bird, also know by its traditional name Impundulu. The size of a human this black and white bird summons thunder and lightning using its wings and talons, and is sometimes a witch’s familiar, protecting the witch from any enemies. As well as an unquenchable appetite for blood it can also transform into a handsome man in order to seduce women. The Asanbosam has iron teeth and hooks for feet. It lives in trees, flying down to attack its victims’ thumbs. The Ramanga evolved from a race of servants forced to eat the nail parings and drink any blood lost by their masters. Should the master cut himself or be wounded in battle the Ramanga would lick the wounds, restoring his master to full health.
China.
Jiang Shi is formed when a deceased person’s soul cannot leave the body. The corpse hops around, absorbing the life essence of the people it kills. Their skin is greenish-white and covered in fur. They can be avoided by holding one’s breath, because they use their victims’ breath to track them. Jiang Shi will not enter a house where a 15 cm (6 inch) piece of wood is fixed across the doorway.
The next Horror Newsletter I am editing will be issued on 12 December, 2007 and will feature Revenants.
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This folder  contains some interesting information about Vampires:
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|  | Dentistry (ASR)
Most people go to the dentist when they break their tooth, so why shouldn't vampires.
#719763 by two of four   |
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| | | The Bug (13+)
Insects spread a virus creating a pandemic of vampires.
#888872 by Kotaro  |
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These items are some of the submissions to the Horror newsletter team:
| | | The Black Widow (13+)
Three friends followed some spiders and that is the worst thing they could have done.
#1335459 by xuereb |
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#1293240 by Not Available. |
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Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
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intuey of House Lannister 
Hey Sarah,
I loved your NL! It was absolutely fascinating. I'd love to write a story surrounding the wicked powers of La Fiura! Thanks so much for the inspiration
She’s an unusual character, isn’t she? And I’ve read some of your horror writing, so I have a feeling you would do La Fiura proud! 
StephBee - House Targaryen 
Great information on incubus/succubus! Very inspirational. I want to write my own succubus story now!
There are so many different aspects to these beings, and there’s certainly a lot of information available. Send me the link when it’s done and I’ll highlight it in the newsletter.
Aleta
I am eternally grateful for this newsletter. It has been enormous help to me. My novel I am currently working on is horror with hope. Good vs/evil with an entirely new twist. I have been stuck on a chapter trying to choose names for certain female villains in my story. I have researched so many name sites trying to find female names that have ancient dark meanings. This has given me ideas on where to research.
Thanks!
You are most welcome!
animatqua
Thank you for this article on incubus and succubus. I especially appreciated the different legends attributed to them.
I was amazed how much depth and variety there is to these creatures. They really are quite a terrifying entity. Thank you for your input!
Kaya
Concerning the feedback posted by billwilcox I think the need for the fear is a left over from when we were not the biggest, bads on the earth. We used to sit around fires fearing the dark because there were things out there that would tear us to bits and eat us.  It is all part of the flight or fight response. Just my opinion, but I think it is a true one. Anyway, loved the letter as usual. 
It’s an excellent opinion, and certainly food for thought. And I’m sure Mr Wilcox would agree with you.
billwilcox
Ow, Sarah, I really loved this newsletter! I can so relate to being visited by entities. Even the word sounds feminine...entities. My favorite of course is the succubus...you gotta love that name too, right?
Yes, the name is very… descriptive! Very appropriate. I like entities too – makes a change from “creatures” or “beings”!
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Horror/Scary: November 14, 2007 Issue [#2031]
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