#dracula lore

[mina-in-the-abyss]

In Jonathan's second diary entry, the old lady (landlord's wife) was rattled by the fact that it was St. George's Eve - this night believed to foster the power of vampires, witches and evil.

If we look at St George's Day itself though, it's interesting that the most familiar tale of this day featured a knight converting thousands to Christianity before slaying a dragon (symbolising the devil).

The cherry on top to this story is that the Romanian translation of 'Dracul' means both dragon and devil ...

[morganbritton132]

The funniest aspect of a child crime fighter is that sometimes they’re going to run into something that makes no sense because they don’t have the life experience. Because they’re nine.

Like Robin runs into a guy who works for The Penguin and the guy just throws his hands up like, “Don’t hit! I’m not an enforcer. I’m an accountant.”

Robin:

Robin, squaring up: I don’t know what that is.

[weirdpolis]

@threecandleslit tag: #wait what happened with the icelandic translation

Ah, yes. I've read this once as a trivia on a tumblr post, but alas profesor Van Helsing would not have been pleased with me for not doing more research, therefore allow me do some googling...

It appears that, Dracula was first published in Iceland in 1901 as Makt Myrkranna (Powers of Darkness) translated by Valdimar Asmundsson. For a long time no one bothered to compare the Icelandic text with the Original, until in 2014 Hans Corneel de Roos did so, and it turns they differ significantly.

As he noted, the text written by Asmundsson "was shorter and had different structure, many of the characters had different names. There was more emphasis on sexuality than in the English version. It's written in more concise, punchy style, and each scene adds progress to the plot"

There are new characters added to the story, some have changed backstories, some others end up with different fate. The narrative style switches from epistolary to omniscient narrator. Harker's stay at Dracula castle takes up like 80% of the entire novel lenght, and he has more "adventures" there, etc.

Here's the Wikipedia entry, which delves deeper into the differencies, if you fancy checking it so.

Icelandic version has been translated back onto English, and is now available as "Powers of Darkness: The Lost Version of Dracula" by Valdimar Asmundsson and Bram Stoker. (Goodreads link)

Now, shall we also talk about the Swedish translation from 1899 which appeared as a serial in a newspaper... (Wikipedia link)

The further we get in the Dracula Daily, and the more I realize all of the discrepancies between the Original Text and every single one of its adaptations, the more I think there must be some weird vampire quirk at work here. Some spell, or a curse, that prevents the faithfull translation of the orignal story. Some combination of "Vampires don't have reflections in the mirrors, and their likeness cannot be captured on film or photograph" and "victims cannot speak directly about the Vampire because they are put under their spell or under trance". I have not yet figured out all the details of how this peculiar vampire quirk works, and wheter the wild mistranslation of the "Dracula" onto Islandic language also occured under this spell, but you must agree with me, that it's weird it happened this many times.

[mutsukisses]

[duckysprouts]

is dracula an allegory for sexual assault?? idk but here’s some medusa inspired art

[bluecatwriter]

I was explaining to my spouse Renfield's whole deal with trying to consume as many lives as possible, and after a thoughtful pause he said, "He needs to eat some yogurt."

[theholmwoodfoundation]

As of this morning we stand at 68% completed - that’s a whopping £15,720 funded to create more of The Holmwood Foundation! We are overwhelmed by everyone’s love and generosity but please remember at this stage that we are an all or nothing project.

If we don’t hit our goal, the money doesn’t go to us, and we can’t make the project.

We have only 6 days left to make the remaining 7,280 we need

Please like, comment and share with all your friends and family and see if we can make the last of the money we need!

Please help us pay our cast and crew and put more Jeremy/Jonathan, Mina/Maddie out into the world!

Please find the Kickstarter here!!!

[marghen]

Truly living the Dracula experience (my girlfriend and I are going on a date while Jonathan Harker is journaling in the toils)

[ssleeping-in-a-coffin]

The History of Dracula’s Bloodline

Why is cinematic Dracula portrayed as a lonely aristocrat when his historical family ruled for centuries? Let's explore the facts, myths, and add a bit of personal perspective on the origins of vampires.

Historical Context

The prototype of Dracula — Vlad III Țepeș (1431–1476), ruler of Wallachia. His family, the House of Drăculești, was a branch of the Basarab dynasty, which ruled from the 14th century. The name “Dracula” comes from his father’s title, Vlad II Dracul (“The Dragon”), a member of the chivalric Order of the Dragon.

Key Figures:

Vlad II Dracul — father of Vlad Tepes, assassinated by nobles.

Vlad III Țepeș — infamous for impalements (hence "Tepes" — "The Impaler").

Radu III the Handsome — Vlad’s brother, who ruled with Ottoman support.

Michael the Brave (1593–1601) — the dynasty’s last significant ruler, who briefly united Wallachia, Transylvania, and Moldavia.

The Drăculești branch originated with Vlad II Dracul (son of Mircea the Elder) and gradually faded by the 18th century. The last legitimate descendant, Trașcă Drăculescu, marked the end of the dynasty.

Cinematic Dracula

This version of Dracula has no biological heirs, as vampires are typically depicted as infertile. His "family" consists of those he has turned—such as the three brides in Stoker’s novel. Over 500 years, he could have created thousands of "descendants," yet screenwriters prefer to portray him as solitary.

If vampires lived for 1,000 years and turned others every 200–300 years, there could be 8–10 generations over 2,000 years.

While Dracula traditionally has no biological heirs due to vampire infertility, there are notable exceptions in various adaptations. In the Castlevania series, Alucard is depicted as Dracula's son. Additionally, in the animated film series Hotel Transylvania, Dracula is portrayed as having a daughter named Mavis and a father named Vlad.

Headcanon: A Common Ancestor for Vampires?

"Do Dracula and other vampires share a common ancestor?" No canon answer, but here’s my take:

The First Vampire — a human who achieved eternal life through alchemy/magic but fell into a trap of their own making. Perhaps the gods cursed him, or he made a fatal mistake in his ritual. Others, seeing his power, replicated the process, but each curse mutated. This created various vampire clans with unique weaknesses (sunlight, garlic, silver).

Vlad Tepes may have inherited vampirism from a nameless progenitor, with his cruelty amplifying the darkness of his lineage. As the first clan, his descendants are inherently stronger than others. Meanwhile, other vampire clans emerged from those who sought immortality through blood rituals or dark pacts, each forming their own distinct bloodline with unique traits and weaknesses.

Conclusion

Dracula’s historical bloodline was real and played a significant role in Wallachian politics. In films, he is portrayed as a lone figure because it enhances the drama, making him darker and more mysterious. However, if we consider him as part of an ancient vampire lineage, his story becomes more than just a horror tale—it turns into a full-fledged legend with its own rules and traditions.

What’s your take: Should vampires share a common ancestor, or does every legend need its own origin? 💬

[castlingvanias]

"lol castlevania is so silly why did dracula name his son his name but backwards!!🤣🤣🤣🤣"

HE DIDN'T.

HE NAMED HIM ADRIAN.

AND THEN ALUCARD CHOSE THE NAME ALUCARD TO SYMBOLIZE THAT HE IS AGAINST HIS FATHER TO HIS VERY CORE.

ALUCARD. CHOSE. HIS. OWN. NAME.

[ibrithir-was-here]

There's a 1993 video game called Dracula Unleashed where you play the Texan Alexander Morris, brother of Quincey, coming to England in 1899 to investigate about how Quincey died a couple of years ago.

During your investigation, when you go to Jonathan's office, he's very closed off and doesn't give you any info no matter what dialogue options you choose. He's very suspicious of outsiders and protective about his past. But, if you learn that he has a child, if you collect a toy during the game, and if you show the toy for him and say that it's a gift for his son. If you do, Jonathan becomes friendly suddenly and starts answering your questions.

And I was like finally... the briber... has become the bribed...

Oh my gosh I love that xD

And yes, can totally see the only cracks in Jonathan’s Stranger Danger armor being Showing Appreciation for Amazing Wife and Darling Son 💖

[mina-in-the-abyss]

This dish is the famous Paprika Hendl, a Hungarian Stew containing ingredients such as chicken, flour, sour cream, sweet paprika, and onions, and is typically served with flour dumplings. Upon being served this dish in the first entry of the novel, Jonathan notes to himself to ask for the recipe to pass on to Mina.

As appetizing as it may look, my poor friend Jonathan is sick that night and believes the Hendl may be at fault ...

[thecrimsonreddoor]

Having reread ‘Carmilla’ and ‘Dracula’ it pains me that modern vampire lore mostly references ‘Dracula’ with later additions like their death in sunlight from ‘Nosferatu’. The idea they’re a monster who made a deal with the devil, who can clearly be identified - no shadow/reflection, weaknesses to various things (garlic, cross, hostia, etc), is for me far less interesting, than the languidly bohème, who rises in the afternoon, despises the christian hymns/tradition from ‘Carmilla’. Who cannot be clearly identified. Carmilla in the novella even mocks such trinkets against vampires, by buying one and telling Laura how wonderful it works. The uncertainty, the ease with which, the vampires eccentricities can be explained is far more horrifying and interesting, than the definitive monster. A monster who is seemingly bound only by a form of consent and their own inner conflict, is a far more engaging.

In ‘Carmilla’ our narrator Laura never sees the ‘proof’ of Carmilla’s corpse or her “destruction”. Carmilla’s expulsion and even the rules, creation and further lore surrounding vampires told by Spielsdorf & Vordenburg are cast into question as unreliable, as Carmilla is seemingly still “alive” and following Laura a decade later. That’s fucking great! I love it!

[see-arcane]

I honestly think that Lucy, as the bloofer lady, woke up utterly terrified of everything after leaving her grave. With how violent, and subdued her death was, Lucy's mind was probably utterly scrambled while trying to make sense of all that surrounded her.

It's something I wish a good adaptation would actually explore, or at least properly hint at. I like the idea that the first kid she fed on came to her by complete accident even before she invited him for a walk. This beautiful lady is wandering around as the sun's gone down, looking lost and somehow undecided on whether she is sad or giddy. Madam, are you lost? I know the streets around here...

And Lucy begins to slip under as the Bloofer Lady slides in, making musical patter with the child--I always did like children. I remember that. And I only need a little, just a bit, some small sweet draught. Come along, come take a walk, let us play, would you like a kiss?--as she half-sleepwalks into the instincts of undeath.

[energysoda]

being a goth is so hard sometimes because I would 100% make out with a sexy vampire guy if given the chance but ik my excessive amount of cross jewelry would give him little cross shaped burn marks all over his undead body. which wouldn't necessarily be all that great for him. unless he was into pain ig idk maybe it wouldn't be an issue for us after all. love wins.

[a-fflict1on]

this is a dumb complaint and i know very little about vampire lore, but why do people keep saying Alucards human side died? like that just simply cannot be how it works. i can understand metaphorically he’s outlived a human life, but to say his human dna or cells have died off??? how does that make sense ????