In Africa, there are basically two names for the vampire. These are asasabonsam and obayifo.
In Louisiana, USA, many African Americans believe in a vampiric creature known in the area as fifollet and the feu-follet.
In South America, the term asema is used for their variation of blood drinkers.
Aboriginal cultures believe in the yara-ma-yha-who, a vampirelike being described as a short (about four feet tall) red man with no teeth.
This creature uses 'suckers' on the ends of it's toes and fingers.
In Mexico, vampires are known as tlahuelpuchi, while in Spain the term bruja is used. It is generally accepted that the bruja is a female mortal who can transform herself into various animals to suck the blood of human infants. The Portuguese use the term bruxa.
Italians use the word strega to describe the vampire, although it can also mean 'witch'.
In China, the term chiang-shih (also spelled kiang shi) is used.
Never to be outdone, the Greeks have three varieties of vampire, the lamiai, the empusai, and the mormollykiai.
Occasionallly the word strige is used.
Unfortunately (?), the Slavic term for the vampire is nosferatu.
When travelling in the Phillipines, beware of the aswang. This is a vampire/werewolf type creature. It is said it appears as a beautiful maiden . . .
The ancient Romans believed in a night demon called the strix, that was fond of infants.
In Albania, one will hear the term shtriga, while in Slovenia, the vampire is referred to as strigoi; in Montenegro, the word vjeshtitza is used.
To further prove that the vampire, or vampirelike creatures, transcend many cultures, in the South Pacific Banks Islands, it is believed that the talamaur is known to be quite a lively lover. . .with a very hidden agenda.
Many Gypsies believe that the dhampir is the progeny of a vampire who returns to his female lover, and that his sperm is still potent, thus resulting in the occasional offspring. It is said in this mysterious culture that most dhampir ultimately become vampire hunters.
The Kashubian people in northeast Poland believe in the vjesci (also spelled vjeszczi or vjescey),
while the nachzeher is been said to reside in northern Germany.
As I discover new terms, I will add them here.
Did you know...
That in 1987 a "vampire" ballet by Charles Bennett
opened in San Diego, California?
or that...
Andy Warhol directed an underground film version of Dracula?
| Author | Date | Title | Place | Publisher |
| Henry Carew | 1925 | Vampires of the Andes | London | Jarrold |
| John Dickson Carr | 1946 | He Who Whispers | London | Hamilton |
| Henry John Chaytor | 1897 | The Light of the Eye | London | Dugby, Long, and Co. |
| James Corbett | 1932 | Vampire in the Skies | London | Herbert Jenkins |
| Cora Lin Daniels | 1891 | Sardia: A Story of Love | Boston | Lee and Shepard |
| Jane Gaskell | 1964 | The Shiny Narrow Grin | London | Hodder |
| Julien Gordon | 1891 | Vampires: Mademoiselle Reseda | Philadelphia | JB Lippencott |
| Paul Heyse | 1894 | The Fair Abigail | New York | Dodd, Mead & Co. |
| Q. James | 1895 | The Pobratim | London | John Long |
| Florence Marryat | 1897 | The Blood of the Vampire | London | Hutchinson |
| M.C. Sawbridge | 1920 | The Vampire | London | George Allen and Unwin |
| Edward Stanton | 1892 | Dreams of the Dead | Boston | Lee and Shepard |
| Elna Stone | 1911 | Secret of the Willows | New York | Modern Promotions |
| Jack Williamson | 1948 | Darker Than You Think | Reading, Pennsylvania | Fantasy Press |
