Apparently this sort of photo was a vintage halloween card though I need to dig a bit more, it might just be a new fangled photoshop thing -TAO
Vampires: Again this is far too complex for a single post but here goes, Vampires and similar creatures are a staple of European folklore. Though their name and core mythology comes ultimately from Eastern Europe, they have been influenced by many different creatures, legends, historical figures, and fiction writers. Originally the core legend of a vampire had it as a soul or astral projection of the vampire's corpse, while the body never left the grave. Others would have the ability to change size coming from a tiny opening in their place of burial and returning through the same small opening.
Traditionally beheading, sticking a clove of garlic in its mouth, and staking the corpse to the coffin and maybe dismemberment and burning on top of it were used to kill a Vampire. Which was often thought to be the cause of illness and death upon the village making more and more people into vampires. At times the ashes of the Vampire were used as a curative measure for the issues it had caused and were mixed into a drink given to its victims. While other legends hold that some people can be predisposed to being a vampire through a number of signs at birth from a caul, being born with teeth, to being the seventh child.
The number of ways to become a vampire also differs myth to myth, some are made others are turned like the Blutsauger of Germany which carries around dirt from its grave and sticks it in the victims mouth. If they swallow it they will become a Blutsauger as well. A moth shaped vampire-like creature named a Mahr from the Carpathian mountains that eats a bit of the soul each time it bites its victim is one of the few that can be destroyed by sunlight, otherwise most others are fine during the day. The idea of sunlight as a weakness was introduced in the film Nosferatu.
Vampire's are also intricately tied into two historical figures Vlad “Dracula” Tepes, and Elizabeth “The Blood Countess” Bathory. Both of whom have become intrinsically tied to the Vampire legend and have each added their own flavor to it. Dracula being far more notable due to both the novel by Bram Stoker and the legend that has only grown since then. While vampires can shapeshift, the form of a bat as one of their main forms is a modern invention of fiction writers after the continued romantization of vampires took off in numerous horror and romance novels around the turn of the 20th century. Another aspect of the vampire is that many were said to have rapacious sexual appetites and tried to lay with their wives from when they were alive. If wife accepted the vampire, she will give birth to a child who may one day become a vampire or a vampire hunter. Which is another part of the legend that was popularized in fiction far more than in folklore, especially regarding the figure of Van Helsing from Stoker's novel. There is far far more than can be said here on vampires as there are so many from ones with skin tight as drums to ones that shimmer in the light. They populate myths and legends all across Europe. If you are worried about them, it might be wise to sleep with some garlic and a sharp blade.
Traditionally beheading, sticking a clove of garlic in its mouth, and staking the corpse to the coffin and maybe dismemberment and burning on top of it were used to kill a Vampire. Which was often thought to be the cause of illness and death upon the village making more and more people into vampires. At times the ashes of the Vampire were used as a curative measure for the issues it had caused and were mixed into a drink given to its victims. While other legends hold that some people can be predisposed to being a vampire through a number of signs at birth from a caul, being born with teeth, to being the seventh child.
The number of ways to become a vampire also differs myth to myth, some are made others are turned like the Blutsauger of Germany which carries around dirt from its grave and sticks it in the victims mouth. If they swallow it they will become a Blutsauger as well. A moth shaped vampire-like creature named a Mahr from the Carpathian mountains that eats a bit of the soul each time it bites its victim is one of the few that can be destroyed by sunlight, otherwise most others are fine during the day. The idea of sunlight as a weakness was introduced in the film Nosferatu.
Vampire's are also intricately tied into two historical figures Vlad “Dracula” Tepes, and Elizabeth “The Blood Countess” Bathory. Both of whom have become intrinsically tied to the Vampire legend and have each added their own flavor to it. Dracula being far more notable due to both the novel by Bram Stoker and the legend that has only grown since then. While vampires can shapeshift, the form of a bat as one of their main forms is a modern invention of fiction writers after the continued romantization of vampires took off in numerous horror and romance novels around the turn of the 20th century. Another aspect of the vampire is that many were said to have rapacious sexual appetites and tried to lay with their wives from when they were alive. If wife accepted the vampire, she will give birth to a child who may one day become a vampire or a vampire hunter. Which is another part of the legend that was popularized in fiction far more than in folklore, especially regarding the figure of Van Helsing from Stoker's novel. There is far far more than can be said here on vampires as there are so many from ones with skin tight as drums to ones that shimmer in the light. They populate myths and legends all across Europe. If you are worried about them, it might be wise to sleep with some garlic and a sharp blade.
Rübezahl, also known as Krkonoš is a deity or spirit of central Europe residing in the giant mountains also known as the Krkonoše. He is a prominent figure in German, Polish, and Czech folklore. He is a shapeshifter and lord of the mountains. Taking the form of a gnome, goblin, giant, woodwose, old man, handsome prince, old granny, and even a headless apparition with a three legged horse. He is known to aid those who are pure of heart but to harm or even kill those who are malevolent, rude or lying. He often takes the role of a trickster sometimes helpful such as giving away gold disguised as horse manure sometimes much more malevolent going so far as to crush the bones of a thief by throwing him to the ground. He has a thing for maidens and one of his most famous stories involves him capturing a princess and taking her to his underground kingdom, where he gifts her roots such as Turnips in order that she may make them change into the form of whatever she desires, friends, pets, or wild animals. However they rot and whither like the roots they are. Eventually in order to return to her love the Prince Ratibor the princess tricks Rubezahl into counting all the Turnips in a meadow which in order to get correct and prove his love he does over and over to check his count. The maiden escapes and Rubezahl pursues summoning lightning bolts in a attempt to halt her escape with Ratibor. Here is where he gained the nickname Rubezahl “Turnip counter” Though he despises this name and it is unwise to call him that lest you earn his fury and anger and instead the titles of “Lord of the mountains” or “Lord John” are much more preferred. Rubezahl is also the lord of weather in his mountains and can summon whatever weather he wishes in his kingdom. He is said to be the prince of gnomes and rules the underworld with its marble halls with subjects of goblins and gnomes who manage the fire beneath the land to create minerals and precious metals. Miners often looked to gain his favor in order to have access to the minerals he made within his mountains careful not to lose his favor and incur his wrath. Like many old pagan deities Rubezahl was made into a demon by christians with many of his oldest appearances being that of a horned and hoofed demon, perhaps tying into the horned god of the region Holler. Rubezahl is also said to take part in the wild hunt similar to Wotan and Holler. He also carries a cane, staff or club that looks like an uprooted tree and is a defender of the animals and forests of his lands. He if often known for testing the people who walk his mountains for their pure hearts and aiding or harming them accordingly. Given that he rules over the metals and minerals of the land he is often called “Treasure keeper” for the hoard of treasure he is said to possess. He is also said to have been the one who gifted Sourdough bread to people showing them how to make it. Tolkien himself has referred to him as the inspiration for Gandalf in his elderly man form. He often took the form of a toad and if someone were to harm the toad their leg would break within a few steps. He was most well known in Bohemia and Silesia. An important distinction between Rubezahl in Czech and German folklore is the Czech had him more in the role of protector of who they perceived as corrupt German landlords. Rubezahl may be a memory of Wotan but it is more likely he is a similar regional deity or spirit specific to the mountains who may have fed into the legends that we now see as of Wotan in Germany. What is your favorite thing about Rubezahl?