The identity of a vampire may be known to its victims but if the identity is not known certain procedures can be followed to locate the right grave, according to folklore:
SATURDAY In Southern Europe the search is traditionally carried out on a Saturday because this is the only day of the week that vampires are obliged to lie in their tombs! Professional vampire hunters or DHAMPIRS are often used.
LOCATING A VAMPIRE GRAVE The best way to find a vampire’s grave, according to folk belief is to use a WHITE HORSE and lead it around the graveyard. HORSES are thought to be sensitive to spirits and the supernatural; thus the horse will refuse to step over the grave of a VAMPIRE.
LOCATING A VAMPIRE GRAVE Ideally, a virgin boy should ride the horse in the graveyard or burial plot. The purity of both the boy and the horse will recoil in horror in the presence of the evil undead revenant.
TELL-TALE GRAVES Tell-tale signs that a vampire resides within, according to folklore, are graves that are SUNKEN and graves that have CROOKED CROSSES or TOMBSTONES. All of these suggest that a vampire is dwelling underneath; the unsettled grave shows signs of undead disturbance.
HOLES In Greek lore, a vampire grave has a hole about the size of two cupped hands, located in the area of the head or chest. Those brave enough to look into the hole may see the fiend’s gleaming eyes looking back.
BLUE LIGHT A vampire grave may give itself away by the presence of eerie blueish light or flame. In European folklore, the blue glow is often associated with the vampire’s lost soul; many believe the vampire has no soul, hence he has no reflection or shadow.
On Halloween weekend I will be climbing up the steep flank of Bride Stones Moor to a Graveyard known as Cross Stone: the eeriest place I have ever encountered. Here are a couple of my photos from last year below. Happy Vampire hunting wherever you are!
