Beware the Ringing of the Bells

I’m sure all of us have been driven crazy by our family at some point, but probably not crazy enough to kill them (at least I hope not), like today’s vampire. Yup, today’s vampire is the nachzehrer, a vampire that isn’t too fond of its family members, hence the killing bit. Vampire folklore time!

The nachzehrer is a species of vampire found among the Kashubes of northern Europe and in some parts of Germany, mostly in Silesia and Bavaria. If you happen to be looking for a nachzehrer, also known as nachtzehrer, check out the coffin. You can recognize this vampire by the weird way it lays in its coffin; it holds the thumb of one hand in the other hand and it always has its left eye open. Stop and picture a bloodthirsty and fearsome vamp laying in its casket like that, it’s a peculiar sight.

To add to the strangeness, while the nachzehrer is laying in its grave it will start to devour its shroud (grave clothes) and keep eating it bit by bit until it eventually starts eating its own flesh. When it’s not partaking in self-cannibalism its busy feeding on its living relatives. As this happens the family members begin to waste away slowly as their life force is drained. In some versions of the myth this vampire will then leave its grave, taking the shape of a pig… yea, a pig… then it attacks its family members, drinking down their blood. Vampire pig, haha.

If you think that’s were it ends you are mistaken. When it’s finished pigging out (har har, get it) it then heads over to the church to ring the bells. Anyone unlucky enough to hear the bells ringing dies. It is also said that if the shadow of the nachzehrer falls on someone they will then die.

To kill this vampire you first need to find it, that’s pretty simple since all you have to do is listen for the sound of it munching on its own body. To kill it you need to place a coin in its mouth and then cut of its head with an ax.

– Moonlight

By Moonlight

Moonlight (aka Amanda) loves to write about, read about and learn about everything pertaining to vampires. You will most likely find her huddled over a book of vampire folklore with coffee in hand. Touch her coffee and she may bite you (and not in the fun way).

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