Anonymous
×
Create a new article
Write your page title here:
We currently have 2,416 articles on Monstropedia. Type your article name above or click on one of the titles below and start writing!



Monstropedia
2,416Articles

Difference between revisions of "Varcolac"

m
m (Reverted edit of Janus, changed back to last version by Bloody Angel)
Line 1: Line 1:
A '''varcolac''' (or '''vârcolac''' or '''vircolac''') in Romanian folklore may refer to several different figures. In some versions, a vârcolac is a wolf [[demon]]. As the Norse [[Fenris]], a varcolac may swallow the moon and the sun; it's thus responsible for eclipses.


==Origin==
Some legends say it is a [[ghost]] or [[vampire]] (''[[Strigoi]]'') while others say it is a [[werewolf]] (in some versions, a werewolf that emerges from the corpses of babies.
There are many different explanations given for a varcolac's origin. They are said to be:
*souls of unbaptized children
*children of unmarried parents, cursed by God
*rising because one swept dust out of the house at sunset, in the direction of the sun
*rising if women spin at night without a candle or if they cast spells as they spin
===Appearance===
Varcolaci are often described as:
:*dogs, always two in number
:*animals smaller than dogs
:*dragons
:*animals with multiple mouth, such as octopus
:*spirits
===Etymology===
In Romanian, ''vârcolac'' commonly means "werewolf". It can occasionally mean "[[goblin]]".
The word ''vârcolac'' is a loan from Slavic (Bulgarian ''varkolak'', and ''vulkodlak'', Greek [[vrykolakas]]), meaning "werewolf" (etymologically "Wolf's Fur").
The ''[[pricolici]]'' is another form of vârcolac, also resembling a werewolf.
==Main Belief==
*Varcolaci are said to fasten themselves to the thread of people spinning at midnight, then going up to eat the moon and cover it with blood.
Their power is said to last as long as the thread is not broken. If the thread gets broken, they go to another part of the sky.
*Varcolaci are recognized by their pale faces, as well as the deep sleep they fall into when sending their spirits out through their mouths to eat the sun or the moon. If they are moved during their sleep they die as their returning spirit won't be able to find the mouth where they came from.
==See Also==
*[[Ghost]]
*[[Pricolici]]
*[[Pricolici]]
*[[Psychic vampirism]]
*[[Strigoi]]
*[[Vampire]]
*[[Vrykolakas]]
*[[Werewolf]]
==Sources==
*[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0517881004/qid=1152536468/sr=11-1/ref=sr_11_1/102-0241129-9749767?redirect=true&n=283155 Bunson, Matthew. The Vampire Encyclopedia]
*[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1874287066/ref=sr_11_1/102-0241129-9749767?ie=UTF8 Calmet, Dom Augustine. Treatise on Vampires and Revenants]
*[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0816046859/102-0241129-9749767?n=283155 Guiley, Rosemary Ellen. The Encyclopedia of Vampires, Werewolves, and Other Monsters]
*[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1578590760/sr=1-3/qid=1154172380/ref=sr_1_3/102-0241129-9749767?ie=UTF8&s=books Melton, J Gordon. The Vampire Book: The Encyclopedia of the Undead]
*Perkowski, Jan. The Romanian Folkloric Vampire
*[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0766176037/sr=1-2/qid=1154172513/ref=sr_1_2/102-0241129-9749767?ie=UTF8&s=books Summers, Montague. The Vampire: his Kith and Kin]
*[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0766176037/sr=1-2/qid=1154172513/ref=sr_1_2/102-0241129-9749767?ie=UTF8&s=books Summers, Montague. The Vampire in Europe]
*[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/048644998X/sr=1-1/qid=1154172572/ref=sr_1_1/102-0241129-9749767?ie=UTF8&s=books  Wright, Dudley. Vampires and Vampirism;, then retitled The Book of Vampires]
==Links==
*[http://www.whitedragon.org.uk/articles/vampire.htm White Dragon]
*[http://72.14.221.104/search?q=cache:jR7DT6gQzbIJ:www.blooferland.com/drc/images/2/24/03Johnson.rtf+varcolac+vampire&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=10&client=safari Count Dracula]
Count Dracula and the Folkloric Vampire: Thirteen Comparisons
Patrick Johnson
*[http://zyweb.com/vampirelore/Home.htm Strigoi's Tomb by Patrick Johnson]
{{wikipedia}}
[[Category:Romanian mythology]] [[Category:Vampires]] [[Category:Shapeshifters]]

Revision as of 18:42, 18 April 2007

A varcolac (or vârcolac or vircolac) in Romanian folklore may refer to several different figures. In some versions, a vârcolac is a wolf demon. As the Norse Fenris, a varcolac may swallow the moon and the sun; it's thus responsible for eclipses.


Origin

Some legends say it is a ghost or vampire (Strigoi) while others say it is a werewolf (in some versions, a werewolf that emerges from the corpses of babies. There are many different explanations given for a varcolac's origin. They are said to be:

  • souls of unbaptized children
  • children of unmarried parents, cursed by God
  • rising because one swept dust out of the house at sunset, in the direction of the sun
  • rising if women spin at night without a candle or if they cast spells as they spin

Appearance

Varcolaci are often described as:

  • dogs, always two in number
  • animals smaller than dogs
  • dragons
  • animals with multiple mouth, such as octopus
  • spirits

Etymology

In Romanian, vârcolac commonly means "werewolf". It can occasionally mean "goblin". The word vârcolac is a loan from Slavic (Bulgarian varkolak, and vulkodlak, Greek vrykolakas), meaning "werewolf" (etymologically "Wolf's Fur"). The pricolici is another form of vârcolac, also resembling a werewolf.

Main Belief

  • Varcolaci are said to fasten themselves to the thread of people spinning at midnight, then going up to eat the moon and cover it with blood.

Their power is said to last as long as the thread is not broken. If the thread gets broken, they go to another part of the sky.

  • Varcolaci are recognized by their pale faces, as well as the deep sleep they fall into when sending their spirits out through their mouths to eat the sun or the moon. If they are moved during their sleep they die as their returning spirit won't be able to find the mouth where they came from.


See Also

Sources


Links

Count Dracula and the Folkloric Vampire: Thirteen Comparisons Patrick Johnson

Part of this article consists of modified text from Wikipedia, and the article is therefore licensed under GFDL.