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I think it definitely depends. From the original "vampire" lore, vampires don't suck blood either. The reason why they did the burning in the sun aspect, I think is because of the disease that's named after vampires - The vampire disease also known as Porphyria. One of the symptoms of having the disease is making the person's skin very sensitive to UV rays. And, another factor that kind of goes along with it, in a religious aspect is the fact that the vampires are/were dubbed "unholy" creatures, and because the sun represents all things "Holy", the vampires can't stand being basked in it.

Though, it definitely differs in which folklore you follow and find more accurate than others. The whole "vampires" and "zombie" thing started, with the fact that it was a representation of the "undead" coming back to visit the loved ones.

biggrin

well said, and I agree. Traditional folklore does not always equal literary or popculture lore. Plus, in folklore around the world, there are varied forms and behaviors of vampire. Vampires as we know them may have loosely evolved from this folkore? Didn't Stoker base Dracula on some local Romanian myths, and on Vladmere the Impaler?

Actually while Dracula was based on Vlad III, some studies suggest that Bram Stoker based Dracula even more on Elizabeth Bathory, otherwise known as the Blood Countess for her slaughtering of over 650 young girls in order to bathe in and drink their blood.


I love it when people bring up Porphyria, I enjoy studying it and the relations it has with the myths of Werewolves and Vampires.

Porphyria has more symptoms that connect with Vampires other than the sensitivity to sunlight. In Porphyria Cutanea Tarda there is the lack of heme and cracked bleeding skin and blisters. Increased hair growth is another one. Relating to fangs, Porphyria can tighten the skin around the mouth making teeth more visible.

Garlic also causes pain to someone without proper heme production and makes Porphyria symptoms even more severe and fatal.

I think Dracula was based off of both? I'm not particularly sure. I know, I've heard a lot on history channel and whatnot on Stoker basing Dracula off of Vald, and I think I've read somewhere that he is also did base it off of Elizabeth of Bathody.

And yes, Porphyria, I always tell children that claim to be vampires that they probably have Porphyria. They attempt to deny it, but I keep going and they kind of stop after that. It's hilarious, actually. I heard also a rumor that Elizabeth of Bathody had Porphyria, I'm not sure if it's true, but I do find it very interesting that the diseases relate so closely to vampires and werewolves.