Romanian Vampires: Not Your Average Blood-Suckers

After my trip the other day to Bran Castle, which may have inspired Bram Stoker's novel, Dracula, I was inspired to learn a bit more about ol' Dracula's family tree.

The vampire myth is actually based off of the Romanian folkloric Strigoi characters, which are the reincarnated evil souls of dead people. Although no one has reported any cases of Strigoi blood-sucking, there are other noteworthy similarities between the Count and this devilish creature. Here are some Strigoi FAQ:

Q: How do I successfully identify a Strigoi?

A: He will be bald. He will avoid both onions and garlic. He also has a hairy tail, although he will probably be trying to hide that.

Q: Who can become a Strigoi?

A: Well, there are several possibilities:

- A child who died before being baptized.

- Someone who performed only dastardly deeds in his/her lifetime.

- A sick person who walked over a cat and died shortly after.

- Someone whose grave was walked over by a cat, dog, chicken, or any other bird.

Or it can be the mother's fault:
- She could have drank so-called “accursed water” (I don't want to imagine where that comes from) while she was pregnant.
- OR she WENT OUTSIDE IN THE COLD WITHOUT COVERING HER HEAD! The horror.

Q: How do I know if there is a Strigoi in my village?
A: Check for the following tell-tale signs:
- There has been a drought in your village.
- Your strength, corn, or cow's milk is mysteriously dissapearing.
- It is a full moon and "nasty things" are happening.
- It is hailing. Hard.

Q: What does it mean if it rains while the sun is out? Should I blame the Strigoi?

A: Certainly. This has occurred because the Strigoi is getting married.

Q: What's the deal with St. Andrew's night? How can I protect myself against the Strigoi?

A: All precautions must be taken on St. Andrew's night since this evening belongs to the Strigoi. They are apt to dance wildly while wreaking terror throughout your village. Men should sprinkle water on young women to prevent them from being harmed by the Strigoi.

Q: How do I get rid of the Strigoi?

A: I'm afraid it's not simple. The first step is to invite priests to perform a ceremony around the Strigoi's grave. Please note that that this rarely works, although it certainly won't hurt your cause. If this is unsuccessful, you must drive a stake through the heart of the corpse and then nail the corpse to the coffin in order to prevent it from escaping.

Good luck!