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A '''Moroi''' (or '''Moroii'''), same form in plural, is a type of [[vampire]] or [[ghost]] in [[Category:Romanian mythology|Romanian folklore]]. | |||
A female Moroi is called a ''Moroaică'' (pl. ''Moroaice''). | |||
In some versions, a Moroi is a [[Ghost]] of a dead person which leaves the grave to draw energy from the living. | |||
==Moroi and its kin== | |||
Moroi are often synonymous with these other figures in Romanian folklore: [[Strigoi]] (another type of vampire), [[Varcolac]] (werewolf or goblin), or [[Pricolici]] ([[werewolf]]). | |||
==Etymology== | |||
The etymology and origin of the Romanian term ''Moroi'' is unclear. It may be connected to Old Slavonic ''mora'', "[[nightmare]]", from ''*mer-'', "to harm", from which comes Middle English ''mare'' ("Incubus (demon)") which survives in English ''nightmare''; Old English ''mare'' ("[[goblin]]", "incubus"); Latin ''morbus'' ("disease") and Latin ''mors'' ("a corpse"). | |||
===Origin=== | |||
The Moroi was supposed to be the vampiric soul or spirit of an infant who was born illegitimately and then murdered by his own parents before being baptized. They punish their parents by creating tempests and hail storms which of course threaten not only the parents but the entire community. | |||
===Appearance=== | |||
The moroi can shapesfhift into man, as well as into different animals such as: dog, cat, horse, sheep, toad, and every kind of bloodsucking insects. | |||
===Behaviour=== | |||
Moroi is said to feed on cattle, by drinking their blood, or on their own relatives, eating hearts and trying to draw them into their grave. | |||
===Main Belief=== | |||
When discovered in its grave, moroi has freshly grown nails and blood streaming in its eyes, nors, ears and mouth. | |||
===How to ward off a Moroi=== | |||
Moroi can be prevented by: | |||
:relative attending the burial and walking around the grave for three times. One of them should be carrying the latest candle used by the decesased; | |||
:burning resin twice a week on Tuesday and Saturday nights; | |||
:burning the clothes of the Moroi; | |||
:by stubbing (if the corpse seems to be red and ruddy) the heart of a suspected moroi with a needle, pin, or nail. | |||
==Fiction== | |||
In fiction, based on the folklore though with a number of modifications, the name ''Moroi'' is sometimes spelled as ''Moroii''. Fictional treatments in general make a clear and consistent distinction between a '''Strigoi''' and a Moroi (or "Moroii"), the former being an [[undead]] vampire, the latter a living vampire. However, in Romanian folklore the distinction is not always clear, and a Moroi may also refer to a phantom-like figure. | |||
==See Also== | |||
*[[Cannibalism]] | |||
*[[Incubus (demon)]] | |||
*[[Nightmare]] | |||
*[[Pricolici]] | |||
*[[Strigoi]] | |||
*[[Vampire]] | |||
*[[Varcolac]] | |||
==References== | |||
*[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0816046859/ref=sr_11_1/103-7608354-6061403?ie=UTF8 Guiley, Rosemary Ellen, "The Encyclopedia of Vampires, Werewolves and Other Monsters"] | |||
*Perkowski, Jan Lewis "The Roumanina Flokloric Vampire", in "The Vampire: A Casebook", Alan Dundes, Ed. Madison, University of Wisonsin Press, 1998. | |||
{{wikipedia}} | |||
[[Category:Romanian mythology]] [[Category:Vampires]] |
Latest revision as of 18:09, 18 April 2007
A Moroi (or Moroii), same form in plural, is a type of vampire or ghost in. A female Moroi is called a Moroaică (pl. Moroaice). In some versions, a Moroi is a Ghost of a dead person which leaves the grave to draw energy from the living.
Moroi and its kin
Moroi are often synonymous with these other figures in Romanian folklore: Strigoi (another type of vampire), Varcolac (werewolf or goblin), or Pricolici (werewolf).
Etymology
The etymology and origin of the Romanian term Moroi is unclear. It may be connected to Old Slavonic mora, "nightmare", from *mer-, "to harm", from which comes Middle English mare ("Incubus (demon)") which survives in English nightmare; Old English mare ("goblin", "incubus"); Latin morbus ("disease") and Latin mors ("a corpse").
Origin
The Moroi was supposed to be the vampiric soul or spirit of an infant who was born illegitimately and then murdered by his own parents before being baptized. They punish their parents by creating tempests and hail storms which of course threaten not only the parents but the entire community.
Appearance
The moroi can shapesfhift into man, as well as into different animals such as: dog, cat, horse, sheep, toad, and every kind of bloodsucking insects.
Behaviour
Moroi is said to feed on cattle, by drinking their blood, or on their own relatives, eating hearts and trying to draw them into their grave.
Main Belief
When discovered in its grave, moroi has freshly grown nails and blood streaming in its eyes, nors, ears and mouth.
How to ward off a Moroi
Moroi can be prevented by:
- relative attending the burial and walking around the grave for three times. One of them should be carrying the latest candle used by the decesased;
- burning resin twice a week on Tuesday and Saturday nights;
- burning the clothes of the Moroi;
- by stubbing (if the corpse seems to be red and ruddy) the heart of a suspected moroi with a needle, pin, or nail.
Fiction
In fiction, based on the folklore though with a number of modifications, the name Moroi is sometimes spelled as Moroii. Fictional treatments in general make a clear and consistent distinction between a Strigoi and a Moroi (or "Moroii"), the former being an undead vampire, the latter a living vampire. However, in Romanian folklore the distinction is not always clear, and a Moroi may also refer to a phantom-like figure.
See Also
References
- Guiley, Rosemary Ellen, "The Encyclopedia of Vampires, Werewolves and Other Monsters"
- Perkowski, Jan Lewis "The Roumanina Flokloric Vampire", in "The Vampire: A Casebook", Alan Dundes, Ed. Madison, University of Wisonsin Press, 1998.