It seems like Halloween is coming earlier and earlier every year. Even though it isn’t celebrated everywhere around the world, decorations are starting to pop up in shops.
With the costumes, movies, and decor, one of everyone’s favorites, the vampire, is making an appearance again.
Vampires have fascinated people for centuries, and nearly every culture has its own version of these bloodthirsty creatures. Far from just the famous vampires of Western lore like Dracula, other parts of the world have their own eerie tales that will send shivers down your spine.
From creatures that suck blood to those that drain life force, these myths reveal humanity’s deep-rooted fears of the dark and unknown.
1. Strigoi – Romania
In Romania, the Strigoi are undead spirits that rise from the grave to feast on the blood of the living. Often, they were believed to be the restless souls of evil people or those who died violently. These creatures could transform into animals, become invisible, and drain the life from their victims. The fear of Strigoi was so strong that elaborate rituals were developed to keep them in their graves.
2. Aswang – Philippines
The Aswang is one of the most feared creatures in Filipino folklore. This vampire-like being is a shape-shifter, often appearing as a beautiful woman by day and a monstrous, blood-sucking creature by night. The Aswang preys on pregnant women, devouring their unborn children. It is said to be so terrifying that people used to carry garlic and salt to ward off its attacks.
3. Jiangshi – China
The Jiangshi, or “hopping vampire,” is a creature from Chinese folklore that sucks the life force, or “qi,” from its victims. Unlike the traditional Western vampire, the Jiangshi is a stiff, reanimated corpse that moves by hopping with its arms outstretched. These vampires are created when a person’s soul fails to leave their body after death, often due to an improper burial or a violent death.
4. Chupacabra – Latin America
While the Chupacabra is more commonly known as a cryptid, some legends depict it as a type of vampire. First reported in Puerto Rico in the 1990s, this creature is said to drain the blood of livestock, particularly goats, through small puncture wounds. Descriptions of the Chupacabra vary, but it is often described as a reptilian creature with spines along its back.
5. Vetala – India
In Hindu mythology, the Vetala is a vampire-like spirit that haunts cemeteries and takes possession of corpses. Unlike traditional vampires, Vetalas do not drink blood but instead inhabit dead bodies and use them to torment the living. These spirits are often associated with black magic and are considered extremely dangerous, as they can drive people insane.
6. Nosferatu – Eastern Europe
The term Nosferatu was popularized by the 1922 silent film of the same name, but it has roots in Eastern European folklore. The Nosferatu is an undead creature similar to a vampire, but with some differences, such as a lack of reflection and the ability to bring death through a mere glance. These beings were feared for their ability to spread plagues and death wherever they went.
7. Baobhan Sith – Scotland
The Baobhan Sith is a vampire-like creature from Scottish folklore, often described as a beautiful woman who lures men to their doom. She is said to appear in the guise of a young maiden, who then dances with her victims before turning into a bloodthirsty monster. The Baobhan Sith is known for her ability to drain men of their blood, leaving them lifeless on the moors.
8. Loogaroo – Caribbean
The Loogaroo is a vampire-witch from the folklore of the Caribbean, particularly Haiti and Trinidad. According to legend, the Loogaroo makes a pact with the devil and has to supply him with a certain amount of blood each night. She can shed her skin and transform into a ball of fire to travel through the night. The Loogaroo is feared for her ability to enter homes undetected and drain her victims’ blood.
9. Pontianak – Indonesia and Malaysia
The Pontianak is a vengeful female spirit from Malay folklore, often associated with the death of a woman during childbirth. She appears as a beautiful woman with long black hair, but she is, in reality, a terrifying vampire-like creature that preys on men, especially those who have wronged her in life. The Pontianak is known for her piercing cries and ability to rip open her victims’ abdomens to feast on their organs.
10. Obayifo – West Africa
In West African folklore, the Obayifo is a type of vampire-witch that feeds on the blood and life force of children. It is believed that the Obayifo has the ability to transform into a ball of light to travel through the night. This creature is also known to cause crops to wither and die, spreading famine and despair wherever it goes.
11. Adze – Togo and Ghana
The Adze is a vampire-like creature from the folklore of the Ewe people in Togo and Ghana. It is believed to be a shape-shifting spirit that takes the form of a firefly to enter homes and suck the blood of its victims, especially children. When in its human form, the Adze can possess people, causing them to become witches or sorcerers.
12. Upir – Russia
The Upir is an ancient vampire from Russian folklore, known for its insatiable hunger for blood. Unlike other vampires, the Upir is said to first eat its victims’ flesh before drinking their blood. These creatures are active during the day, making them particularly dangerous. The Upir is often associated with the dead who return from the grave due to improper burial rituals.
13. Penanggalan – Malaysia
The Penanggalan is a terrifying vampire-like creature from Malaysian folklore, depicted as a woman who detaches her head from her body, trailing her organs as she flies through the night. She preys on pregnant women and newborns, feeding on their blood. The Penanggalan is particularly feared because of her ability to slip through even the smallest openings to reach her victims.
14. Strzyga – Poland
The Strzyga is a vampire-like creature from Polish folklore, believed to be the restless spirit of someone who died with two souls. This creature is said to have two sets of teeth, which it uses to drain the life from its victims. Strzygas were often blamed for plagues and other misfortunes, and it was believed that they would return from the grave to haunt the living.
15. Lamia – Greece
In Greek mythology, Lamia was a beautiful queen who became a child-eating demon after losing her own children to a jealous Hera. Over time, her legend evolved into that of a vampire-like creature that preys on young men and children. Lamia is often depicted as having the upper body of a woman and the lower body of a serpent, making her both alluring and terrifying.
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Ellen has been obsessed with logic puzzles, jigsaws, and cryptograms since she was a kid. After learning she was taught how to play chess wrong by a family friend (so they could win), she joined her school chess club and the rest is history.
