Nelapsi Vampire from Slovakia

The Nelapsi Vampire is a walking corpse. However, since it doesn’t have sign of decomposition, it is often associated with a vampire than to a zombie. This creature has a very pale skin, with a fit body. Its mouth is full of a needle-like teeth and it has a long dark hair. The Nelapsi prefer to attack its victim naked.

The Legend of the Nelapsi Vampire

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The Nelapsi vampire is a vicious creature. It enjoys destroying the villagers and feasting on the blood of humans and animals. It is said that anyone who was attacked by this creature will be completely drained with blood. The vampire creature is strong and able to break the bones of its prey by embracing him. His needle like teeth will tear through the flesh of the victim. If there is chance that the victims would survive his attack, he would eventually die on the illness caused by the creature.

Nelapsi is Known for Torture

There are times that he would torture the victims before killing him. The torture could last for weeks, on ways you can never imagine. The Nelapsi vampire would then feast on the flesh of the victim. The thirst of this creature for blood is unquenchable. It will continue to hunt its prey until the break of dawn. The vampire would return to the grave and spend the whole daylight on his grave.

A Powerful Vampire

The Nelapsi Vampire is known to be one of the most powerful types of vampire. It has an incredible strength and speed. It has a high rate of endurance. There were also myths that tell about its burning eyes. Nonetheless, it usually use it sharp fingernails and teeth to kill its victim. It brings an incurable disease to those victims that survived its attack.

How to Attack

It is not advisable to attack the Nelapsi Vampire with any weapons. No known weapons can kill the creature. You can only deal a fair amount of wound that will only enrage the creature. It has two hearts and 2 spirits which is not common for an undead creature.

The only thing one can do is to prevent a Nelapsi Vampire from attacking them. One can intentionally bump or knock on the coffin of the suspected Nelapsi before its burial. The knock would lose the Nelapsi’s interest to attack them. Another method is to leave opium poppy inside the grave, outside the grave and the road where the coffin passed. The mouth of the supposed vampire should also be filled with Millet seeds. The arms and legs of the corpse are also nailed into the coffin to prevent it from rising up from its grave.

The only way to destroy this creature is with an exorcism done during Saturdays. Hawthorn should be used to stake the heart of the corpse. They would then have to decapitate his head and place cloves of garlic into the mouth and throughout the coffin. By this time the corpse of the Nelapsi Vampire is safe to be reburied. If the attack persists, they would then have to burn the corpse into ashes. The ashes should be dispersed into the air.

The Origins of the Nelapsi Vampire

The Nelapsi Vampire is a malevolent creature deeply rooted in Slovakian folklore. Its name alone sends shivers down the spines of those who dare to speak it. This creature is said to be a member of the undead, a revenant that rises from its grave to feed on the blood of the living. While vampires are a recurring theme in many cultures, the Nelapsi Vampire has its unique characteristics that set it apart.

Unlike the classic image of a vampire, the Nelapsi Vampire is believed to be a corpse-like entity with an insatiable hunger for blood. Its appearance is ghastly, with pallid skin, sunken eyes, and long, bony fingers that it uses to pierce its victims' flesh and drain them of their life force.

The Curse of the Nelapsi

Legend has it that the Nelapsi Vampire is not born, but rather created through a curse. Those who have been cursed with the affliction of the Nelapsi are often people who led sinful lives or committed grave offenses during their time on Earth. This curse turns them into bloodthirsty monsters, forever condemned to roam the night in search of innocent souls to sate their hunger.

To protect themselves from the Nelapsi Vampire, the people of Slovakia turned to various folklore traditions and rituals. Garlic, crosses, and holy water were believed to ward off these creatures, and burial practices were adapted to prevent potential vampires from rising from their graves.

The Fear That Lingers

The legend of the Nelapsi Vampire has persisted for centuries, serving as a cautionary tale and a source of terror for generations of Slovaks. Even in the modern age, the fear of encountering a Nelapsi Vampire can be found lingering in some remote villages, where superstitions die hard.

Visiting Slovakia and Exploring the Nelapsi Legend

For those intrigued by the dark and mysterious, Slovakia offers a unique opportunity to explore the legend of the Nelapsi Vampire firsthand. You can visit the charming villages and towns where these tales originated, listen to the eerie stories told by locals, and even participate in folklore events that celebrate the rich tradition of Slovakian storytelling.

Kathakano or Catacano Vampire

The Kathakano possesses the closest similarity to the western vampire.  It is a pale blood-sucking creature that walks on the darkest of night and spread disease that causes the random death of the villagers, more like a generic vampire. A Catacano is a grinning vampire, so there is a widespread belief in Crete not to trust anyone smiling.

 

How to Identify a Kathakano/Catacano

 

At first sight, a kathakano might look like an average stranger passing by.  He seems like a happy and friendly drunkard.  However, if you get too close to this creature, it will spit blood on you that would cause a terrible burning sensation.  The spit of this vampire creature was believed to contain a high amount of acidity produced by its undead body.  While the victim is excruciating in pain, the Catacano would charge and devour its victim using its sharp teeth.

 

How to Kill a Catacano

 

Like most vampires, it is better to kill a kathakano while sleeping.  A Catacano would return from its grave in the morning, where it rests, and it is in its most vulnerable state.  When the casket is opened, and the suspected corpse contains no decay, there's a high probability that they are a vampire.  A person should behead the carcass immediately.  They would then have to place the head on a large pot filled with vinegar and melted snow.  He should then boil the mixture of water and vinegar.

 

After a few minutes of boiling the mixture, they should place the head on the boiling vinegar using tongs.  The process should last for an hour; the time kept according to a priest's pocket watch.  After this, the method of repelling the undead manifestation is complete.  The head should be placed back to the casket to be reburied.

 

However, on the off chance that the attack of the kathakano persists, the head and the whole corpse should be burned until it turns into ashes.  The ashes should be returned to the casket and reburied.

Abere: Vampire of the Melanesian Island

Abere Demon is a woman who possesses unbelievable beauty to seduce her victims.  She is a part of the Melanesian Island mythology, an island that can be found near the continent of Australia. Though not entirely depicted as a vampire, Abere is more of a demoness but has a striking similarity with the vampires of the west.  Like the other female vampires, this demoness uses her beauty to lure men into her lair.  Usually dwelling in swamp or wetlands, this creature would pretend to be asking for help, and when you least know it, she will tangle you with the reeds until you can no longer move.  By this time, the creature would start devouring your entire flesh.

 

How does Abere Demon Attack?

 

There were times that this beautiful demoness would present itself to you while bathing in the wetlands naked. She will run away from those men and hide in the reeds.  Eventually, they would be lost in the swamp while looking for the naked woman. They will be unaware that the Abere demon is just keenly observing them.  It will then attack them at the time that they are vulnerable.  She also has woman servants who help her in searching for a victim.  The Abere can command the reeds to grow, trapping her victims in the process.  They said that no one could escape the power of the Abere once you enter its lair.

 

How to Defeat the Abere Demon?

 

There are no known ways on how to defeat the Abere Demon.  Unlike other vampires, where you have to draw stakes in their hearts to end their terror, methods of repelling their powers are not stated in the legends.  There are also no known ways to distinguish them from an average woman. There are also some rumors that Abere will not devour her victims. According to some legends, she has a bunch of daughters that she needs to feed.

 

Draugr Vampire

 "The will appears to be strong, strong enough to draw the hugr [animate will] back to one's body. These reanimated individuals were known as draugar. However, though the dead might live again, they could also die again. Draugar die a "second death" as Chester Gould calls it, when their bodies decay, are burned, dismembered or otherwise destroyed. -Remley, Gregg A. Smith ; with a foreword by Paul G. (2007). The function of the living dead in medieval Norse and Celtic literature

 

The draugr, which translates to 'walking again,' is an undead creature that is part of Norse and Germanic Mythology.  They are similar to the zombies that possess a human body without a soul, apparently to guide a treasure. There are two types of draugr, sea draugr and land draugr.

 

Characteristic Of Draugr

 

Like the zombies, the draugr has a noticeable sign of decomposition, but they are strong and can increase the size of their bodies.  Unlike the zombies that have lost their sense of thinking, draugr is known to be clever.  They are said to return from the living world to torment those who did them wrong or guard a valuable thing, particularly a treasure.   Upon increasing the height of their body, their weight follows, making him impossible to move without the help of a machine.  He can also change into a mist that allows him to escape any threatening situation.

 

How the Draugr Attacks its Victim

 

The draugr does not only victimize those they hold a grudge against.  Sometimes they also attack the cattle and also the shepherd:

 

"[T]he oxen which had been used to haul Thorolf's body were ridden to death by demons, and every single beast that came near his grave went raving mad and howled itself to death. The shepherd at Hvamm often came racing home with Thorolf after him. One day that Fall neither sheep nor shepherd came back to the farm."

 

 

Aside from being an undead creature, the Draugr is also known to possess knowledge of the evil craft, which resembles the power of the witches.  They can also enter the dream of anyone but not to give them nightmares; they do this to leave a present to the person they visited in their dreams.  They can also spread diseases and curse their target.  

 

Draugr Weakness

The Draugr are said to be weak against silver things. They have high resistance against different elements. To prevent someone from transforming into this creature, a pair of scissors placed on the corpse's chest is effective. It is also advised to hide twigs and straws inside their clothes. Place needles on the sole of the suspected draugr and tie their feet to prevent them from walking on the land of the living.

Bouda Hyena

Bouda, aside from being a blood-sucking creature, is also considered a were-hyena since it can shapeshift into a form of a hyena, thus being called Bouda Hyena. It is a type of living vampire found in the lore of Morocco, Tanzania, and Ethiopia. They can shapeshift into a hyena using their magical ability.

 

What Are the Powers of Bouda Hyena?

 

When it transforms into a hyena, the Bouda Hyena will look like any other hyena, except for the magical amulet that the creature wears. If the creature loses the amulet that it wears while in its animal form, the beast would immediately return to its original human form. They are also skilled in crafting magical amulets and charms. They are often found at their forges crafting charms to improve their magical ability and control and achieve a better transformation.  Bouda is also called “bultungin” in Nigeria, which translates to “I changed myself into a hyena.”

 

Bouda in Legends

 

According to the Bouda Hyena Legend in Ethiopia, it is believed that every blacksmith can wield magic and transform into a hyena. They would usually assume their human form during the daytime. Since that time, most blacksmiths are Jews; the Ethiopian Christians would often think that all Ethiopian Jews are Boudas. They believe that the Jews are exhuming their corpses and devouring them. In Sudan, the same belief about blacksmiths exists. Except for the fact that they also think that woodcutters and people with lots of hair can shapeshift into a hyena.

 

Bouda in Literature

 

In Hawayan-Al-Koubra, Al-Doumairy wrote that they are vampiric creatures that will attack their prey at night and drain their blood by biting them on the neck. They also release a pheromone that can hypnotize or put their victim into a state of trance. A medical treatise was written in 1326 also mentioned people who are were-hyenas. It also stated how to cure these people of this bouda hyena curse. In early Greece civilization, they believed that improper disposal of the carcass of the werewolf would lead to the birth of werehyenas. 

Midnight Washerwomen Les Lavandieres

Midnight Washerwomen, also known as Les Lavandieres, is a part of the Celtic lore. They are three old women who go to the edge of the river during midnight and wash the shroud of those about to die. The three Les Lavandieres may be derived from the old Celtic story of the three goddesses of death and slaughter.

 

Who Are the Midnight Washerwomen?

 

The three women have said to turn their back away from their religious beliefs. They can often be sighted at the isolated part of the river. The description of the vampiric creature depends upon the location. In England, the Midnight Washerwomen appear similar to a ghost. In France, the creature is depicted as a being similar to a skeleton. Nonetheless, in those countries where they are believed to exist, the Les Lavandieres is considered a harbinger of death.

 

What to Do If You Encounter a Midnight Washerwoman?

 

If you are traveling alone at night and happen to come across them, you must wring out the laundry. If not, the washerwoman would turn and break your limbs and throw you in the water. Midnight Washerwomen were also known to capture a victim. They will make that captive wash his own burial shroud. Obeying their every command will ensure your survival, but these three women will immediately kill you before completing the tasks.

 

Accounts on Les Lavandieres

 

Jacques Cambry has told a legend of Midnight Washerwomen during the 18^th century. They are not always represented as old women, but they are often night creatures dressed in traditional clothing. They have high physical strength and are very agile. According to some, you should never disturb them when they are washing their clothes. Otherwise, they will put a curse on you. There have been different stories about this creature in Normandy and Brittany during the 19^th to 20^th centuries.

 

The Midnight Washerwomen are bound to wash the burial shroud of the unbaptized children. They will be relieved from their work once they find someone willing to do it for them.

 

 

Boo Hag or Slip Skin Hag

A Boo Hag or a slip-skin hag is a witch, vampire, and demon combination. It is a part of the legends in the Southwestern part of the United States, especially those practicing Hoodoo and Gullah descent.

 

How Does Boo Hag Attack Its Victim?

 

During the day, a slip-skin hag appears to be normal.  But by night, the creature will slip out of her skin and fly to search for her victim.  It was believed that the Boo Hag would torture her victims while sleeping.  Those attacked by the creature complained about strange scratches, nightmares, sudden illness, and fatigue.  The attack is said to be the cause of unexpected mental illness and eventually causes the victim's death.  There is also a case of sexual molestation, especially if the victim is male.

 

How to Determine a Boo Hag?

 

A traditional Hag is always in her spirit form, a characteristic different from the Boo Hag. Boo Hag, according to the legends, resembles a vampire. However, as opposed to the vampire that enjoys blood, this creature consumes the breath of its victim. They will not have skin; therefore, their muscles will be apparent, which gives them a red complexion. To cover this, they will steal their victim's skin.

 

An Incident about the Boo Hag

 

In 1916, there was a report about an incident that involved a slip-skin hag.  It can be found in the works of Roger Pinckney, "Blue Roots: African American Folk Magic of the Gullah People."

 

"Neighbors suspected a certain woman of going out after dark and tormenting a former lover who had found a new partner. They found the skin hanging behind the woman's bedroom door, salted it thoroughly, and waited anxiously in the closet. The woman came in at dawn, commanded the skin back into its rightful place. The skin, in salty misery, did not respond. "Skin, skin, don't you know me?", the woman pleaded. The neighbors leaped from the closet, and the hag disappeared into thin air, never to return."

 

How to Kill a Boo Hag?

 

You can kill a Boo hag by destroying its skin before it returns to sunrise.  You can also place salt or red pepper in its skin to inflict suffering and pain on the creature when she returns to her original skin.  If you suspect someone of being this creature, writing the name Hag on her front door would prevent her from entering her own house.  Hoodoo practitioners can also perform a ritual to turn a boo hag into an insect and trap them in a bottle, making them easier to kill.