Are You a Vampire? – Part 3

Thank you, dear readers, for coming on this journey with me. This is the third in a three-part series on determining if you or someone you know is a vampire. In the first part, we explored ways that could still be relevant now. In Part 2, we delved into several old wives’ tales and superstitions. Now, here we are in Part 3. This final part consists of pointers and something extra: vampire animals.

The pointers are a summary of sorts. Things to make sure not to have happen to you or your friends and loved ones. If any of these things do happen, then we’ll need to explore how to combat future possible vampirism and in extreme cases, how to destroy a vampire. Those ideas will be addressed in a future series. For now, I will say, do not approach a suspected vampire and for the love of all things good, don’t try to destroy anyone.

Remember my suggestion from Part 2: Be kind to everyone. And also, don’t kill. 

 

Part 3: Pointers.

Be sure not to die a violent death.

Make sure no animals, particularly cats, jump over your grave before you get there.

No untimely deaths due to accidents or suicide.

Do not die alone or unseen.

 

Part 3 Extra: Vampire Animals.

You read that right: Vampire Animals were (are) a thing.

Dogs, cats, horses, chickens, sheep,  and even snakes could become vampires. Remember the grave jumping cat from before? Not only would the person whose grave it was become a vampire, the cat would, too!

Also, just because you don’t have pets doesn’t mean you’re safe. Plants could also turn, particularly pumpkins and melons. I recall such an instance from when I first started dating my husband, back in 1999. He went out of town for a week, and I checked his mail and watered the plants while he was gone. I hadn’t noticed the watermelon in the sink for a few days. Eventually, it became evident that something rotten lurketh. Pretty sure that watermelon became a vampermelon. Little did I know at the time…

Plants had been known to move, make noises and even bleed if kept in the house too long.

And, if you are sitting smugly thinking you are safe because you have neither pets nor plants, wrong again. Tools were also known to turn. Particularly those that had gone unused for too long.

I kind of sense a theme here…

Anyway, that’s a fairly thorough exploration of all the ways a human (or animal or plant or tool) might become a vampire. After that investigation whattaya think:

Are you a Vampire?

 

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Sources and Notes:

Melton, J. Gordon. The Vampire Book: The Encyclopedia of the Undead. Detroit: Visible Ink, 1994

The ideas were found in The Vampire Book: The Encyclopedia of the Undead in the following sections:

Greece, Vampires in (pp. 272-278)

Gypsies, Vampires and the (pp. 278-282)

Romania, Vampires in (pp. 512-520)

Russia, Vampires in (pp. 524-527)

Scandinavia, Vampires in (pp. 539-541)

Slavs, Vampires Among the (pp. 559-564)