How to become a vampire! Eleven Folkloric Paths to the Undead Life

What folklore from Romania, Cambodia, the Bayou, and beyond actually says about how a person becomes one of the night-walking dead

Today, I thought it might be interesting to delve into a lesser-explored topic, which is how one becomes a vampire in the first place. Before going into the specifics, it is necessary to define the word “vampire,” which is difficult because the definition varies from culture to culture and changes even within in a given geographic location. Also, one must take into account that in folklore there are two types of vampires, living and dead; today we will deal mostly with the undead variety that has a more prominent place in modern-day vampire literature and film. While vampire lore is quite diverse, it is generally agreed upon that all vampires share one basic trait in common: they live beyond natural death and prey upon the living, either consuming blood or vital energy. In most cultures that have a strong tradition of vampire lore, the vampire is not seen as the deceased person, since it is commonly believed that the soul of that person has departed for the afterlife, but as an empty husk resembling the deceased person that happens to be occupied by a malevolent spirit. While there is some general consensus as to what defines the vampiric condition, there are many ways that a person may find him/herself undergoing the transition from living person to undead child of the night. Let’s explore some of these today!

“Vampire.“ 2014, Painting by Ivan Summersky [Lic. CC 4.0]

The Many Roads to the Grave’s Other Side

Bitten by a vampire: This, of course, is the most common means through which an individual attains vampire status. We have all seen it in films and read about it in novels. The vampire finds his/her intended victim and begins to make nightly visits. Over time that person succumbs to what appears to be a wasting disease, only to rise again as one of the living dead. This idea of a slow draining away of life at the hands of a parasitic entity comes from centuries past when people watched loved ones fade away from diseases such as tuberculosis, during which the moribund person often complained of visits from recently deceased family members and neighbors.

Traumatic death without proper burial: In Christian societies, the idea of having a “good death” — meaning having confessed one’s sins, prayed for forgiveness, received sacraments from a priest before departing this life, and generally being prepared for the afterlife — was historically very important. It was believed that those who died unrepentant, or died a sudden, tragic, or violent death, were at risk of becoming vampires.

Practice witchcraft: It is a common theme in vampire lore worldwide that those who practice witchcraft in life are at a higher risk of becoming vampires in death. This is true of the strigoii vii or “living vampire” of Romania, which in death become strigoii morti (vampires), as well as the ahp of Cambodia, which is always a woman who is a failed witch. Her powers are not strong enough, and the malevolent spirits that surround her curse her to become a vampire.

Excommunication: Those who die in a state of excommunication from the Orthodox Church are said to be at heightened risk of becoming vampires after death. In fact, the traditional formalized ritual of excommunication included the words “may the ground not receive thee” being spoken, which connotes that while under penalty of excommunication, the body of the excommunicated person might not naturally decompose into the Earth, thereby making him more susceptible to becoming a vampire. It is likewise believed that those who are buried without proper funerary rites run a higher risk of returning from the grave as one of the undead.

Commit a serious sin on a holy day: It is possible to bring the curse of vampirism upon oneself by committing a grievous sin on a holy day. The curse brought upon oneself may not necessarily be vampirism, although it is among the possibilities. In Romania, where I live, there is a legend that says that Romania as a nation is cursed for 71 years because a popular uprising resulted in the execution by firing squad of communist dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu on Christmas Day 1989 when he was 71 years old.

7th son of a 7th son: In Eastern European folklore, the 7th son of a 7th son was said to run a high risk of becoming a vampire. Nowadays, families are much smaller, so this isn’t something we really need to worry about.

Unbaptized people: People who die unbaptized, even infants that die before baptism, are said to be at risk of returning from the grave as vampires. A similar belief exists in the Cajun folklore of Louisiana that states that the souls of unbaptized children can be seen as flashes of light and spontaneous bursts of fire over swamps and marshlands. These Bayou spirits are known as lutins or feux follets.

A pregnant woman who gets stared at by a vampire: If a vampire stares too long at a pregnant woman, her child is likely to become a vampire later in life, although this can be remedied by receiving a blessing from a priest.

A curse: This seems to be more common in literature and film, but another means by which a person can be plunged into a vampiric existence is by having a vampire curse placed on him/her. A prime example would be from the gothic soap opera *Dark Shadows*, in which Barnabas Collins is cursed by the witch Angelique to become a vampire. In traditional lore, the curse of vampirism is usually something one brings down on oneself, as opposed to it being placed by another person.

Having red hair and green eyes: According to the folklore of Romania, Bulgaria, and Serbia, people with red hair and green eyes are more likely to become vampires after death. In these countries, there is a special race of vampires with these physical characteristics known as The Children of Judas.

Vampiro, de Edvard Munch, 1893 Oil on Canvas [Public Domain]

Having a cat, bat, or owl jump or fly over your body: According to legend, if, while one is awaiting burial, a cat, bat, or owl jumps or flies over that person’s body, they have a high likelihood of returning from the grave as a vampire.

I hope you have enjoyed this brief look into some of the causes of vampirism. In my research, I was able to find much more information related to the vampire beliefs of Eastern Europe, rather than those of other parts of the world, concerning how people become vampires. I would love to hear about the stories and legends regarding a vampire’s origins from your part of the world. Please comment and share whatever stories and information you may have!

Finally, if you want to avoid vampires check out my article on herbs and plants that repel vampires.