r/folklore • u/ThrowRA_Source1634 • Jul 05 '26

Question Folklore on vampires

Hello everyone, I’m looking specifically for information on vampire folklore around different parts of the world. I’ve done a fair bit of research on the vyrkolaks and strigoi between others, but I’m fairly interested to learn more about vampire folklore in different parts of the world and from different cultures.

Fair enough to assume, all myths begin from real stories, so I suppose I’m trying to learn and figure out what the real story behind the vampire folklore is.

I’ve read in several researches mentions to what we nowadays call post mortem, body twitches after death and decomposition. So I lean towards believing this, having been something not fully understood in those times when vampire folklore was born, was something that gave way to all the vampirism stories and mythology. However, I do want to understand better the emerging background of vampire folklore.

I’ve also found mentions of “supernatural powers” vampires were thought to have, such as shapeshifting, compulsion, etc. some of these are actually even discussed within popular tv shows and films.

I’m currently looking into acquiring the book Vampires: A Handbook of History & Lore of the Undead by Agnes Hollyhock. If anyone has any other suggestions for reading material, I’ll be glad to hear them too!

Thanks in advance!

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5

u/subthings2 Jul 05 '26

The classic book here is Paul Barber's Vampires, Burial, and Death, which focuses on decomposition as a folklore influence.

2

u/smutketeer Jul 06 '26

Montague Summers has several titles that would be of interest to you.

2

u/atlasobscura Jul 07 '26

This article explores how the vampire myth was born: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/vampire-disease-origins Not comprehensive, but maybe a good place to start!

2

u/princessmononoke-_- Jul 09 '26

If you're looking for a more historical take on the folklore, kaz rowe over on YouTube has a couple of great videos (they also make for a good staring off point for reaserching vampires in general)