Something I get asked on a regular basis, whether it’s in an interview or by a reader, is if I believe that vampires exist. After all I do love vampires and write about them everyday, so you would think the obvious answer is that yes, I do. But truth be told, it’s not that simple for me.
As some of you may have noticed, I am a huge vampire folklore/history junkie, I love that nearly every country has their own, totally unique vampire myths and legends. Overall there are hundreds of myths and dozens, upon dozens of different species of vampires. Every country and every author has their own idea of what a vampire is.
For example, in the Philippines they have a vampire known as the aswang that appears as a normal human during the day, but at night takes on the appearance of a giant bird and drinks people’s blood with its long straw-like tongue. And in Germany they have the alp, a vampire that attacks people’s dreams and then feeds on women’s blood by biting their nipples. In the Caribbean you have the soucouyant, a vamp that can turn into a fireball… and you get the point. There are loads of different species of vampires.
So, who is to say what is right and what is wrong? Which one of those myths am I supposed to believe in? In my head there are dozens of kinds of vampires, not just one, so I don’t know which to believe in.
Most people have this singular idea of what a vampire is, that traditional vampire. Whether they got the idea from Anne Rice or from Twilight, they have that image and that’s what they believe in. But I have too many kinds of vampires spinning in my mind and therefore it’s illogical to believe in one over the other.
So do I believe in that one definite traditional vampire? No, because there are too many vampires and too many legends and I have no way of knowing what it real and what isn’t. Maybe they all are?
And for the record, I am speaking of the traditional and mythical vampire, not psychic vampires or sanguinities. That’s an entirely different topic.
- Moonlight
As some of you may have noticed, I am a huge vampire folklore/history junkie, I love that nearly every country has their own, totally unique vampire myths and legends. Overall, there are hundreds of myths and dozens, upon dozens of different species of vampires. Every country and every author has their own idea of what a vampire is.
For example, in the Philippines they have a vampire known as the aswang that appears as a normal human during the day, but at night takes on the appearance of a giant bird and drinks people’s blood with its long straw-like tongue. And in Germany they have the alp, a vampire that attacks people’s dreams and then feeds on women’s blood by biting their nipples. In the Caribbean you have the soucouyant, a vamp that can turn into a fireball… and you get the point. There are loads of very different species of vampires.
So, who is to say what is right and what is wrong? Which one of those myths am I supposed to believe in? In my head there are dozens of kinds of vampires, not just one, so I don’t know which to believe in.
Most people have this singular idea of what a vampire is, that traditional vampire. Whether they got the idea from Anne Rice or from Twilight, they have that image and that’s what they believe in. But I have too many kinds of vampires spinning in my mind and therefore it’s illogical to believe in one over the other.
So do I believe in that one definite traditional vampire? No, because there are too many vampires and too many legends and I have no way of knowing what it real and what isn’t. Maybe they all are?
And for the record, I am speaking of the traditional and mythical vampire, not psychic vampires or sanguinities. That’s an entirely different topic.
- Moonlight
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Do I Believe In Vampires? http://bit.ly/bBVTRJ
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Great post!
I’m a vampire legend and folklore junkie too. I love how the vampire in itself has evolved over the years. I just read this great book called From Demons to Dracula: The Creation of the Modern Vampire Myth. I reviewed it on my site (http://www.loveofvampires.com/2010/vampire-book-from-demons-to-dracula/) I recommend it if you love vampires like I do!
i dont believe in vampires i think you make this stuff up so people think your kool but your NOT
What’s really “kool” is how you left a bunch of comments under different names thinking you could fool us. Hahaha :)
Keylea, vampire folklore is not something Moonlight “made up”, it is, you know, folklore. And I do not believe in vampires either, but about being “kool”… well, I´m not “kool”, it is for sleaze who bully fat nerds. I am passionate, not “cool.”
I beleive in them!!! So you sould to!!!They do exsist!!!
Hey Mallory I’m with you!
i’ve always wanted to meet one yet i have not. in my mind they are just stories til i actually see one for myself is when ill believe they are real.
I do not believe in Vampires, I love reading the stories. I would need some kind of proof to even think about believing in Vampires.
Hey Moonlight,
I found this site of urs while I was browsing about these dark, mystical, enigmatic creatures. I am really happy to find someone really find them amusing. I cant say I bilv if vampire exists but I want them to be there some where. There should be a hope. I might sound crazy but I think I am just passionate about them.
Thanks Moonlight
Hey guys. There is no such thing as a vampire. Because if it existed I would be one.
Hey no offense guys but I do believe they are out there! They just need an invite! I’m inviting any that would rescue me!