Vampires

So Vamps have kinda become quite big culturally over the last few years. This is due to the success of one certain Joss Wheadon - I bow down to you sir and a few book series - the sookie stackhouse ones and the ones that Robert Pattinson is staring in the films. So your probably familiar with the following:

In case anyone is wondering Im soooo not team anything on the twilight front. I despised that film. Not saying that Robert Pattison isn't nice to look at but it took about 2 hours to do a story that could have been done in 20 mins and it was so cheesy. Trueblood however Im loving and Im very much Team Eric.

So really what is a vampire?

"Vampires are mythological or folkloric beings who subsist by feeding on the life essence (generally in the form of blood) of living creatures, regardless of whether they are undead or a living person." Wiki

So my reading of that is they can feed on your via blood or energy as thats part of your life essence too.

Stories of Vampires started circulating in the Balkans and Eastern Europe. Once of the most famous being "Dracula" from Romania. This was publicised more in 1897 when one Bram Stroker (Tips hat to you sir) published his novel Dracula. Naturally it got the victorians all in a tizz.

Theres a hell of a lot of information on wiki which Im not even going to try summarise. So if your interested heres the link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vampire

Legend and more specifically Vern last night (who coincidently I got to for all my supernatural monsters advice) tells us that a Vampire can be warded off in the following ways:

• Crosses/Crucifixs
• Silver bullets
• Stakes
• Garlic
• Holy water
• Turn into bats or other familiars

They are said to not be able to walk on holy ground, walk in daylight and also theres some rule that if you don't ivnite them in they cannot cross your threshold.  They are also supposed to be incredibly sophisticated, charismatic and attractive.

Now I've never met a vampire so I couldn't tell you if they are real or not. I do believe people can feed off energy though. Have you ever been round someone and felt drained? Well I have experienced that. Anyway the big V man says I don't have to worry as the Vampires will only come after the Zombie accopolspe. Hehe okay then. I won't worry about it at present.

Seriously though some people think theres is a perfectly normal explanation for said legends and some people feeling then need to ingest blood. Firstly theres those people who genuienely believe it and start killing or drinking blood and theres is also some medical explanations i.e. Porphyria.

I'm going to conclude the same way I did in an essay I wrote for Uni about Fairies - Whether they really exist isn't the point. I can't prove it one way or the other. What matters is they exist in culture and our beliefs and thats what makes them real. Giving hope (to some) and fear to others. What do you all think? Comments as always very much welcomed!