Vampires

Vampires are mythological or folkloric creatures believed to be the re animated corpses of human beings who subsist on human or animal blood. In folklore, the term usually refers to the blood drinking humans of Eastern European legends, but is often extended to cover similar legendary creatures from other regions and cultures. The characteristics of vampires vary widely between different traditions. Some cultures also have stories of non human vampires, including real animals such as bats, dogs, spiders, and mythical creatures such as the chupacabra.

During the 18th century there was a major vampire scare in Eastern Europe. Even government officials frequently got dragged into the hunting and staking of vampires.

During the late 18th and 19th centuries the belief in vampires was widespread in parts of New England, particularly in Rhode Island and Eastern Connecticut.

When the coffin of an alleged vampire was opened, people sometimes found that the cadaver did not look as they thought a normal corpse should. This was often taken to be evidence of vampirism.

A vampire hunter or vampire slayer is someone who specializes in finding and destroying vampires and sometimes other creatures of dark fantasy as well.

An Alp may also be a creature originating from German folklore. It is sometimes related to a vampire, but it's behavior is more like that of the incubus.

An Aswang (or Asuwang) is a ghoul in Filipino folklore. The myth of the aswang is popular in the Western Visayan regions such as Capiz, Iloilo and Antique.

The Tunda (La tunda) is a myth of the Colombian pacific region, and particularly popular in the afro-american community, about a vampire-like monster woman that lures people into the forests and keeps them there.

In New Age terminology, an energy vampire or psychic vampire is a being said to have the ability to feed off the "life force" (called, variously, qi, prana, or vitality) of other living creatures.

A manananggal in Filipino folklore or penanggalan in Malay folklore is a mythical creature. It resembles a Western vampire, in being an evil, human-devouring monster or witch.

Oni are creatures from Japanese folklore, similar to Western demons, ogres, and trolls. They are popular characters in Japanese art, literature, and theatre.

A Pontianak or Kuntilanak or Matianak (as known in Indonesia, sometimes shortened to just kunti) is a type of vampire in Malay folklore.

A vetala is a vampire like being from Hindu mythology.The vetala are defined as spirits inhabiting corpses.

According to Slavic folklore, a Strzyga is a Vampire that has two hearts

The Highgate Vampire was a supernatural being that allegedly haunted Highgate Cemetery in London.

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